All Blacks and Canterbury flanker Richie McCaw has been named as the New Zealand Player of the Year, taking home the Kelvin R Tremain memorial Trophy at the Steinlager Rugby Awards in Auckland on Wednesday.

McCaw, who was also nominated for the International Rugby Board's PLayer of the Year Award, was a key figure in the All Blacks' Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup triumphs and their eventually disappointing World CUp campaign.

Elsewhere, Sir Brian Lochore received the Steinlager Salver award for his outstanding contribution to New Zealand rugby.

The All Blacks took the Team of the Year award, Wayne Pivac was named Coach of the Year after leading Auckland to the Air New Zealand NPC Division One title this year, Carlos Spencer was named Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year and Xtra Super 12 Player of the Year, while Auckland's newest All Black Ben Atiga received the Age Grade Player of the Year award.

Auckland's Iliesa Tanivula and Monalisa Codling were also named the Air New Zealand NPC Division One Player of the Year and Lion Foundation Cup Player of the Year respectively.

The 2003 Steinlager Awards winners is as follows:

Kel Tremain Memorial Player of the Year: Richie McCaw (Canterbury)
Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year: Carlos Spencer (Auckland)
Xtra Super 12 Player of the Year: Carlos Spencer (Blues)
Richard Crawshaw Sevens Player of the Year: Eric Rush (North Harbour)
New Zealand Rugby Coach of the Year: Wayne Pivac (Auckland)
adidas Team of the Year: All Blacks
Air New Zealand NPC Division One Player of the Year: Iliesa Tanivula (Auckland)
Air New Zealand NPC Division Two Player of the Year: Davis Norman (Hawke's Bay)
Air New Zealand NPC Division Three Player of the Year: JJ Walker (Wanganui)
Lion Foundation Cup Player of the Year: Monalisa Codling (Auckland)
Age Grade Player of the Year: Ben Atiga (Auckland)
Referee of the Year: Paddy O'Brien (Southland)
Volunteer of the Year: Ru Rangi (Wellington)
Steinlager Salver for an outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby: Sir Brian Lochore