New Zealand's top provincial players will be celebrated through two new awards, New Zealand Rugby announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The Mitre 10 Cup player of the year will receive the Duane Monkley Medal, while the Fiao'o Fa'amausili medal will be given to the player of the year in the Farah Palmer Cup.
The awards will be determined under a new points system, with the inaugural winners will be revealed at the annual Rugby Awards on December 14.
The Player of the Year awards will be determined by a season-points system, with match officials picking their players of the match awarding three points, two points and one point for the game's top three performers.
A season scoreboard will keep track of the tally, with the players sitting at the top of each chart to be announced as the winners at the ASB Rugby Awards on 14 December. Previously the provincial player of the year has been determined at the end of the season by a judging panel.
Previously the provincial player of the year has been determined at the end of the season by a judging panel.
The new awards system mirrors the AFLs Brownlow Medal, where points are awarded to the top three players in every match throughout the season.
New Zealand Rugby Head of Provincial Unions Steve Lancaster says the medals have been named after two players, both of whom epitomise the strengths and values of provincial rugby.
"Duane and Fiao'o are incredible individuals who have given, and continue to give, so much to our game," Lancaster said in a statement.
"Their commitment, leadership and passion for the game is everything these competitions stand for and it will be a great privilege for our best players to be awarded a medal in their honour.
"Although these players proudly wore their own provincial colours, there is no doubt their contribution to the spirit and legacy of the national provincial competitions, can be celebrated by all unions."
Monkley played 135 matches between 1987 and 1996 for Waikato and currently has an active involvement in the game as President of the Waikato Rugby Union.
Fa'amausili is currently captaining the Black Ferns for her fifth Rugby World Cup, and is set to become the first Black Fern to reach 50 Test caps.
The medals have been designed by renowned Maori artist Dave Burke, who has previously worked with New Zealand Rugby to design the Maori All Blacks jersey.
The Mitre 10 Cup season kicks off on Thursday night when North Harbour face Otago in a repeat of last year's championship final while the Farah Palmer Cup kicks off next month.
Newshub.
