The Rugby Australia Awards are set to be held on Wednesday, celebrating the year that was.
The event will not be broadcast, with Rugby.com.au set to live blog Rugby’s night of nights in Sydney.
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Rob Valetini will be hunting for back-to-back John Eales Medals as part of an all-back row nomination group.
Meanwhile, the Wallaroos Player of the Year will be contested by the likes of Maya Stewart, Ash Marsters and Tabua Tuinakauvadra.
Check out all the details for this year’s Rugby Australia Awards below
Harvey Norman Super Rugby Player of the Year
The Super Rugby Player of the Year is awarded to the standout player from the 2024 Super Rugby season from the Australian clubs.
Queensland Reds flanker Fraser McReight won the award in 2023 and is out for a double after an excellent season for the club.
He will face stiff competition from Brumbies duo Rob Valetini and Tom Wright alongside Waratahs scrumhalf Jake Gordon, Rebels winger Filipo Daugunu and Force playmaker Ben Donaldson
PAST WINNERS
2023: Fraser McReight (Reds)
2022: Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
2021: James O’Connor (Reds)
2019: Samu Kerevi (Reds)
2018: Taniela Tupou (Reds)
2017: Amanaki Mafi (Rebels)
Community Awards
The Community Awards recognises all the incredible contributors to the great game of Rugby.
It aims to celebrate Rugby at all stages, especially at the grassroots level.
These awards include Volunteer of the Year, Joe French Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rugby, Geoff ‘Bunter’ Shaw Community Coach of the Year Award and Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby
Super Rugby W Player of the Year
The Super Rugby W Player of Year looks at the best player during the 2023 Super W competition from the Australian clubs.
2024 saw the NSW Waratahs end Fijiana Drua’s stranglehold over the title with a convincing win at Ballymore.
Unsurprisingly, the likes of Maya Stewart, Desiree Miller and Atasi Lafai will feature highly in discussions for Player of the Year.
However, defending champion Cecilia Smith will be eager to repeat whilst Brumbies flanker Siokapesi Palu, Force scrumhalf Sam Wood and Rebels stalwart Ash Marsters were incredible for their respective clubs.
PAST WINNERS
2023: Cecilia Smith (Reds)
2022: Ivania Wong (Reds)
2021: Lucy Lockhart (née Dinnen) (Reds)
2020: Ema Masi (Brumbies)
2019: Tayla Stanford (Brumbies)
2018: Shanice Parker (NSW)
Fedex Referee of the Year
The Referee of the Year is awarded to the standout Australian Rugby referee across either Sevens or the 15-a-side format.
It is awarded to the referee who demonstrates high standards of officiating and is considered to be a role model for the game in Australia.
Angus Gardner won the award for a third year in 2023 after taking charge at the Rugby World Cup semi-final.
Gardner headlines a strong refereeing group that includes three-time winner Nic Berry, Jordan Way, Reuben Keane and Tyler Miller
PAST WINNERS
2023: Angus Gardner
2022: Nic Berry
2021: Nic Berry
2019: Nic Berry
2018: Angus Gardner
2017: Angus Gardner
Rookie of the Year
Rookie of the Year is awarded to the player who is deemed to have been the most outstanding first year player in Australia in the last 12 months.
They must have made their debut for either the Wallabies, Wallaroos, Australian 7’s or Super Rugby teams on or since the opening game in the current rugby season
The award was given to Carys Dallinger in 2023 after her stunning rise to a gold jersey and the subsequent upset victories in WXV 1
There are several candidates that stood up this year, with the likes of Kaitlin Shave, Jeremy Williams, Carlo Tizzano, Caitlyn Halse and Tim Ryan making a name for themselves in 2024.
PAST WINNERS
2023: Carys Dallinger
2022: Nick Frost
2021: Andrew Kellaway
2019: Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea and Jordan Petaia
2018: Taniela Tupou
2017: Ned Hanigan
Rugby Australia Junior Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year
This is awarded to a player 20 years or under in the year of the award.
It recognises outstanding performance and achievement at international, national or state level across the 15s and Sevens.
Teddy Wilson took out the honour last year for the men and Faitala Moleka for the women.
Australia U20s captain Toby Macpherson, flanker Aden Ekanayake and fullback Shane Wilcox were the standouts from the U20 World Championships.
Meanwhile, the Wallaroos introduced a host of fresh talent to their squad, including Caitlyn Halse, Waiaria Ellis and Ruby Anderson
PAST WINNERS
2024: Teddy Wilson and Faitala Moleka
Cadbury Try of the Year
The Try of the Year is awarded to the best try scored by an Australian across the past 12 months.
This includes Wallabies, Wallaroos, Super Rugby, Super W and Sevens.
In an exciting year, Jake Upfield and the Reds claimed the gong last year after their long-range effort against the Highlanders during Super Rugby Pacific
Click here to watch this year’s nominees
PAST WINNERS
2023: Jake Upfield v Highlanders (Round 14 – Super Rugby)
2022: Lalakai Foketi v France, Paris
2021: Taniela Tupou v South Africa, Brisbane
2019: Nic White v New Zealand, Perth
2018: Taqele Naiyaravoro v Rebels (Round 5 – Super Rugby)
2017: Joe Powell v Hurricanes (Round 2 – Super Rugby)
Shawn Mackay Awards
The Shawn Mackay Awards celebrates the best Sevens players from 2022.
It is awarded to the standout and most consistent Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens player across the last 12 months.
Maddison Levi and Henry Paterson were first time winners in 2023 after strong seasons on the world series.
Levi is up for the honour alongside Faith Nathan and Madison Ashby whilst Nathan Lawson, Ben Dowling and Dietrich Roache have been nominated for the men’s award
PAST WINNERS
2023: Henry Paterson & Maddison Levi
2022: Corey Toole & Charlotte Caslick
2021: Henry Hutchison & Charlotte Caslick
2019: Maurice Longbottom & Charlotte Caslick
2018: Ben O’Donnell & Evania Pelite
2017: James Stannard & Chloe Dalton
Wallaroos Player of the Year
The Wallaroos Player of the Year is awarded to the best and most consistent Women’s player across the last 12 months.
It must be a representative of Australia’s national women’s team (Wallaroos XV) and recognises the female Australian Rugby player that has shown the most outstanding on-field performance over the last 12 months
Prop Eva Karpani took the honour in 2023 after a barnstorming finish to the season.
Ash Marsters, Tabua Tuinakauvadra and Maya Stewart are the trio nominated for the Wallaroos Player of the Year.
PAST WINNERS
2023: Eva Karpani
2022: Georgina Friedrichs
2019: Grace Hamilton
2018: Emily Chancellor
2017: Hillisha Samoa
John Eales Medal
The John Eales Medal is awarded to the best and most consistent Men’s player across the last 12 months.
It must be a representative of Australia’s national men’s team (Wallabies ) and recognises the male Australian Rugby player that has shown the most outstanding on-field performance over the last 12 months
Backrower Rob Valetini claimed the award in 2023 (141), edging out Angus Bell (132) and Marika Koroibete (116 votes).
Valetini, Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight are the nominees for the John Eales Medal.
PAST WINNERS
2023: Rob Valetini
2022: Marika Koroibete
2021: Michael Hooper
2020: Michael Hooper
2019: Marika Koroibete
2018: David Pocock
2017: Israel Folau
2016: Michael Hooper
2015: Israel Folau
2014: Israel Folau
2013: Michael Hooper
2012: Nathan Sharpe
2011: Kurtley Beale
2010: David Pocock
2009: Matt Giteau
2008: George Smith
2007: Nathan Sharpe
2006: Chris Latham
2005: Jeremy Paul
2004: David Lyons
2003: Phil Waugh
2002: George Smith
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