Chiefs and All Black lock Brodie Retallick has capped off a superb 2014 season in the tight by taking out the top gong at the New Zealand Rugby Awards.

The 23-year-old was named the Kelvin R Tremain Player of the Year in Auckland last night, adding to his IRB World Rugby Player of the Year 2014 title.

Chiefs and All Black lock Brodie Retallick fends off English wing Marland Yarde. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Retallick's outstanding form saw the 35-Test powerhouse lock join team mates Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino, who have won the top honour in recent years.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers, who attended last night's celebrations, admits the lock is yet to play a game in the blue and gold of the Steamers, but is extremely proud of the efforts.

Moving from Hawke's Bay after the 2011 ITM Cup season, Retallick has amassed 51 caps for the Chiefs since being plucked from the 2011 World Cup winning under-20 side by coach Dave Rennie.

'After signing for the Bay he was selected for the All Blacks and hasn't looked back,” says Rogers.

'It is important that we recognise his amazing achievements and hope we get to see him pull on the blue and gold hoops at some stage.”

Other Bay of Plenty rugby members tasting success during the night of glitz and glamour were referee Glen Jackson and life-long rugby servant Dick Littejohn.

Jackson won his second Referee of the Year Award, his first coming in 2012, after an impressive season where he enhanced his international credentials and was selected for Six Nations duty next year.

But the biggest highlight of the evening for the Bay was the recognition of a real champion of the community game, a man who also made his mark on the upper levels of rugby.

Leading administrator and former All Blacks Manager Dick Littlejohn played a key role in delivering the first Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 1987 – a successful event which laid the foundation for future World Cup tournaments.

The Whakatane man's pioneering work, coupled with a long history of administration in the game in the Bay of Plenty and nationally, saw him awarded the Steinlager Salver which recognises an outstanding contribution to the game.

He has remained actively involved with Bay of Plenty rugby and now serves as the union's patron.

The award adds to Littlejohn's BOPRU Award, the first ever presented, in 2011.

Bay referee Nick Briant, sevens exponent Scott Curry, and volunteer Mike Nitz were all finalists in their respective categories.

'It was very pleasing to see a cross section of our game represented on the night with players, referees and volunteers all recognised for excellence at our highest level. As a union, we are very proud of all of them,” says Rogers.