The 2023 edition of the Rugby Australia Awards are set to be unveiled in the coming days.
The awards will be released across February and March to celebrate an incredible year of Rugby.
It will conclude with the awarding of the John Eales Medal, with Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper out to win a record fifth award.
Check out all the details for the 2023 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 2022 Super Rugby season.
Last season saw a host of players produce inspirational performances for the clubs, leading to an uptake of Australian victories against their Kiwi counterparts in Super Rugby Pacific
Queensland Reds flyhalf James O’Connor is the defending champion after guiding the Reds to the Super Rugby AU title in 2021.
PAST WINNERS
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
Buildcorp Super W Player of the Year
The Super W Player of Year looks at the best player during the 2022 Super W competition from the Australian clubs.
2022 saw the Fijiana Drua claim their first ever title, capping off a historic year for the expansion club.
Last season lead to a number of players making their Wallaroos debut after breakout seasons.
PAST WINNERS
2021: Lucy Lockhart (Reds)
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.
There have been several referees that have made their name on the World circuit, refereeing games at the Six Nations, Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup 2021.
PAST WINNERS
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 or Aust 7’s teams on or since the opening game in the current rugby season
PAST WINNERS
2021: Andrew Kellaway
2019: Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea and Jordan Petaia
2018: Taniela Tupou
2017: Ned Hanigan
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.
PAST WINNERS
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: Men’s and Women’s Sevens Players of the Year
The Shaun 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.
Both sides finished 2022 as the World Series champions, with the Women completing a historic Triple Crown.
PAST WINNERS
2021: Henry Hutchison & Charlotte Caslick
2019: Maurice Longbottom & Charlotte Caslick
2018: Ben O’Donnell & Evania Pelite
2017: James Stannard & Chloe Dalton
Buildcorp 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
The award makes its return after a COVID-affected 2021 for the Wallaroos, with last season headlined by October’s Rugby World Cup
PAST WINNERS
2019: Grace Hamilton
2018: Emily Chancellor
2017: Hillisha Samoa
John Eales Medal
The John Eales Medal represents the standout Men’s Player across the last 12 months.
Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper holds the record with five Medals since it was introduced in 2002.
It is a peer-voted award to Wallaby that is considered the most outstanding performing player across the last 12 months
PAST WINNERS
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
