THE BEST OF AUSSIE RUGBY CROWNED AT 2024 RUGBY AUSTRALIA AWARDS
- Rob Valetini wins back-to-back John Eales Medals
- Maya Stewart named Wallaroos Player of the Year
- Nathan Lawson and Maddison Levi claim Sevens honours
- Tim Ryan scores a double with Rookie of the Year and Cadbury Try of the Year
Australian Rugby’s finest performers from the 2024 season were celebrated at the Rugby Australia Awards in Sydney on Wednesday night.
The evening culminated with the announcement that forward Rob Valetini had become the third player behind Michael Hooper and Israel Folau to secure back-to-back John Eales Medals as the Wallabies Player of the Year.
The ACT Brumbies enforcer had another standout year for the Wallabies in 2024, featuring in all nine Tests, and with a pivotal role still to play in next month’s Spring Tour.
Winger Maya Stewart was crowned Wallaroos Player of the Year after scoring nine tries in eight Tests and helping to inspire the team’s historic triumph at the WXV 2 tournament in South Africa.
Valetini wasn’t the only back-to-back award winner on the night, with Maddison Levi again named Women’s Sevens Player of the Year and QLD Reds flanker Fraser McReight defending his Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year title.
Nathan Lawson picked up Men’s Sevens Player of the Year while Brumbies captain Siokapesi Palu was named Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s Player of the Year.
21-year-old Reds winger Tim Ryan capped off his stellar breakthrough season by taking home the Rookie of the Year Award, along with Cadbury Try of the Year for his solo effort against the Blues at Suncorp Stadium.
Australia U20 captain Toby Macpherson was named Junior Men’s Player of the Year and 18-year-old Caitlyn Halse picked up Junior Women’s Player of the Year after securing the starting fullback role for the Wallaroos.
The Fedex Referee of the Year Award went to Nic Berry, who along with his significant Test commitments, was appointed to officiate the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final.
The awards night also saw Toutai Kefu and Matthew Burke inducted to the Wallabies Hall of Fame, and Selena Tranter (née Worsley), Cheryl McAfee (née Soon) and Emilee Barton (née Cherry) inducted to the Australian Women’s Rugby Hall of Fame.
2024 Rugby Australia Awards – winners list
John Eales Medal – Rob Valetini
Wallaroos Player of the Year – Maya Stewart
Shawn Mackay Award for Men’s Sevens Player of the Year – Nathan Lawson
Shawn Mackay Award for Women’s Sevens Player of the Year – Maddison Levi
Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year – Fraser McReight, QLD Reds
Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s Player of the Year – Siokapesi Palu, ACT Brumbies
Rookie of the Year Award – Tim Ryan, QLD Reds
Junior Men’s Player of the Year – Toby Macpherson, ACT Brumbies
Junior Women’s Player of the Year – Caitlyn Halse, NSW Waratahs
Cadbury Try of the Year – Tim Ryan, QLD Reds vs. Blues
Fedex Referee of the Year – Nic Berry
Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby Award – Graeme Tosch, Rugby Victoria
Joe French Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rugby – Kim Evans, Rugby Union South Australia
Geoff ‘Bunter’ Shaw Community Coach of the Year Award – James Barkell, NSW Rugby
Andrew Cole Community Match Official of the Year – Ian McGowan, QLD Country Rugby Referees
Cadbury Club of the Year – Wagga Wagga Junior Rugby Union Club
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