Wellington Rugby’s Caleb Delany wins Māori Sportsperson of the Year at The Blues Awards

Wellington Lion, Caleb Delany (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) has been awarded Māori Sportsperson of the Year at The 2022 Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Premier Blues Awards. 

Delany, who made his debut for the Māori All Blacks in 2022, plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, and current Ranfurly Shield holders, the Wellington Lions, in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC competition. Caleb received the Old Boys’ University Jack Jeffs Rugby Scholarship in 2021, which helped him follow his two passions, rugby and his studies in architecture. 

Old Boy’s University Rugby Club’s administrator Richard Boag has been named Sports Administrator of the Year. Over the past three years, as well as being the OBU administrator, he has also conducted a historical exercise for the Wellington Rugby Football Union, researching players from the 1880s onwards.  

He is currently a PhD student at the Wellington School of Business and Government, studying issues in sports management and governance. 

The Blues Awards were first awarded in 1902 and are presented each year in partnership with the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA). They are the highest sporting accolade the University can give students. This year, thirty-one students received Blues awards, from over a dozen sports. This year also saw the addition of a new premier award, for sporting and academic excellence. 

"These awards recognise the rich contribution that tertiary sport makes to tertiary life," says Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Jennifer Windsor.  

"We are proud to recognise every one of these student athletes, and the clubs and administrators that made their success possible." 

Wellington Rugby Football Union, CEO, Matt Evans said he was thrilled to see Delany and Boag acknowledged with Blues Awards. 

"Caleb is a fine young man who we are very glad to have in our fold. His diligence and application to both his studies and his rugby make him a role model for everyone coming through the system behind him. We wish him every success with his future studies and of course his rugby,” said Evans.  

“Richard is well known on the Wellington club rugby scene, and we are particularly grateful for all his voluntary efforts helping number our representative athletes. This was no small feat given it required going back through records 140 years, or more, old. This award though recognises a wider contribution for which so many rugby people are grateful.” 

Premier Blues Awards Winners from Wellington Rugby Football Union:  

Māori sportsperson of the year: Caleb Delany (Rugby) 

Sports Administrator of the Year: Richard Boag (Rugby)