Top Honours in Toulouse

Dunedin-born Byron Kelleher, 31, former All Black and now scrum-half for French team Toulouse, has been voted the Top 14’s player of the season, succeeding Stade Francais’ Argentinean Juan Martin Hernandez. Kelleher scored three tries for Toulouse, the reigning champions, in their 20-6 victory over Biarritz in September. Of those 15 points scored, Kelleher said: “The opportunities were there and I took them. I was happy with that.” He has established himself on the international stage, appearing in 57 tests for the All Blacks between 1999 and 0027. New Zealand back Orene Ai’i, who plays for recently promoted side Toulon, won Division 2 player of the year.