Blair Ryall named 2023 Southland Stag of the Year
Ever-improving loose forward Blair Ryall was on Wednesday night named both the Southland Stags Player of the Year and the Rugby Southland Supporters Club of the Year.
Blair Ryall has cleaned up at the 2023 Southland Stags end-of-the-season awards evening.
The ever-improving loose forward was on Wednesday night named both the Southland Stags Player of the Year and the Rugby Southland Supporters Club Player of the Year.
Ryall was also named the Stags Forward of the Year. Earlier in the week Ryall picked up the much less official Golden Antler Award on The Roaring Pen podcast.
The former Crusaders Development loose forward joined the Stags towards the end of last season as injury cover and provided a glimpse that he could be a player for the future.
He signed on with the Stags for the 2023 NPC campaign and after a big off-season, where he put on close to 10kg of bulk, the Woodlands clubman had a breakthrough NPC season with Southland.
He started in all but one game during this campaign and in that one game he did not start he was brought off the bench in the 31st minute.
Ryall’s durability was an asset in 2023. He had a high work-rate in defence and showed he is dynamic in attack.
It would be surprising if Ryall has not caught some interest from Super Rugby outfits. Although these days there is little room for players to force their way into Super Rugby contracts on the back of a strong NPC campaign.
Ryall may well end up in the United States playing in the MLR competition in between NPC seasons to tick that box of playing professionally all year round.
In other awards, Viliami Fine was named the Stags’ Back of the Year and it’s understood his form may have attracted the interest of the Moana Pasifika decison-makers.
Midfielder Matt Whaanga received the support of his teammates by being named the Players’ Player of the Year and he too looks to be in line for more Super Rugby opportunities with the Highlanders.
Openside flanker Leroy Ferguson emerged as a real find for Southland in 2023 and picked up the Stags’ Rookie of the Year.
Ferguson was waiting in the wings for an opportunity in Otago before shifting south to link with the Eastern-Northern Barbarians club, and is now very much an NPC quality player.
Hooker Jack Taylor picked up the Rugby Southland Supporters Club’s Most Promising Player honour.
In the less rugby-focused awards, Noah Foster won the NZRPA Development Award for his work off the field, while captain Josh Bekhuis was the McKnight & Brown Best Dressed Stag.
2023 SBS Bank Southland Stags Awards:
Player Of The Year - Blair Ryall
Rugby Southland Supporters Club Stags Player Of The Year - Blair Ryall
Rugby Southland Supporters Club Most Promising Player - Jack Taylor
Players Player - Matt Whaanga
Back Of The Year - Viliami Fine
Forward Of The Year - Blair Ryall
NZRPA Personal Development Award - Noah Foster
Rookie Of The Year - Leroy Ferguson
Mini Team Winners - The Breeders
McKnight and Brown Best Dressed Stag - Josh Bekhuis