Two Hautapu Sports Club members have carried off prestigious honours at the 2024 Waikato Rugby awards.
Premier A player Laghlan McWhannell has been named the winner of the Aaron Hopa Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding contribution to the Waikato senior team culture.
McWhannell is the latest Hautapu winner of the award, and past recipients include Premiers head coach Jackson Willison who was awarded the trophy in 2013.
Francis van den Einden was awarded the Waikato’s Junior Coach of the Year award.
Hautapu Sports were finalists in the region’s Club of the Year section, an award won by Melville Junior Rugby Club.
The SupaPwr-sponsored Waikato Rugby awards recognise people and teams who have made an outstanding contribution to Waikato Rugby in 2024.
The evening covered the entire spectrum of the game, including coaches, players, referees, volunteers and administrators from junior, school, club, and representative levels.
Main photo: The Waikato rugby community gathered to celebrate their 2024 achievers. Photo credit: Waikato Rugby.
Award winners
Aaron Hopa Memorial Trophy
Recipient: Laghlan McWhannell
Junior Coach of the Year
Recipient: Francis van den Einden
Waikato Draught Club of the Year
Finalists: Hamilton Marist, Hautapu Sports, Melville Junior Rugby Club
Winner: Melville Junior Rugby Club
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