South Canterbury's national team award a first for Heartland rugby

Stuff: Doug Sail December 15, 2023

A third-straight unbeaten season has been recognised with South Canterbury becoming the first Heartland Championship team to win New Zealand Rugby's National Men's Team of the Year award.

South Canterbury headed off the Crusaders, the Super Rugby champions for the past seven years, and Taranaki, who won the NPC title for just the second time.

"No Heartland team has ever won the national team of the year title before," South Canterbury rugby statistician Jeremy Sutherland said.

Sutherland said South Canterbury finished 2023 with 31 consecutive wins in the Heartland Championship with the run beginning in 2019. The 31st win, against Whanganui to secure a third consecutive Meads Cup , was also the union's 500th first class win.

"It is the second time in three seasons that they have won all matches with a bonus point (2021 and 2023). No other union in NPC or Heartland has ever done that," Sutherland said.

South Canterbury co-captain Tokomaata Fakatava said on Sky TV's live broadcast of the ASB Rugby Awards on Thursday night that he was "lost for words".

"It's a big achievement for the boys to finally be recognised ... it means a lot."

Hooker Connor Anderson said it was "massive for the team" and recognition for all the time and effort and time away from families.

The team's other co-captain, Willie Wright, said, "the last three years have just been unreal”.

“Three titles in a row, going unbeaten for three years is pretty amazing.

"I don't think we realise what we've achieved quite yet until we probably retire and sit back and meet up 10 to 20 years down the track," Wright said.

There was a second award for the squad, with No 8 Siu Kakala being named the Heartland Player of the Year and winner of the Ian Kirkpatrick Medal.

Wright, who won the award in 2021, said the achievement would be awesome for Kakala and his family back in Tonga.

"I don't really know what to say," Kakala said on Sky Sport.

"The past four years have been really tough for me being away from family. Luckily I had you guys right beside me."

Coach Nigel Walsh said Kakala had been "a very special man in our team for a long time”.

"I'm just pleased for him. He deserves it."

Walsh was a finalist in the men's coach of the year category, but that honour went to Taranaki’s Neil Barnes.