Israel Folau
Israel Folau becomes the 1st Australian player to win consecutive John Eales Medals.
The Wallabies and Waratahs fullback Israel Folau has claimed the 2015 John Eales Medal, winning the award for a 2nd consecutive year.
In just his 3rd year in Rugby Union’s top flight, Folau’s meteoric rise has continued as he becomes just the 3rd player in the 14-year history of the John Eales Medal to collect the major award for a 2nd time, joining George Smith (2002, 2008) and Nathan Sharpe (2007, 2012).
At a packed gala dinner at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) celebrated and acknowledged the players, coaches, fans, match officials and administrators for their dedication, committment and outstanding performance.
Folau picked up 138 votes in total to edge out resurgent flanker David Pocock (113), Wallabies Vice-Captains Michael Hooper (108), Adam Ashley-Cooper (98), and Ben McCalman (95) to become the 1st ever back-to-back winner.
Building on his 1st 2 seasons in rugby, Folau produced another standout Rugby Championship campaign, before being judged the Wallabies’ best in a losing effort against the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup decider.
The 3-code star has played in every Wallabies Test since making his debut in the gold jersey against the British & Irish Lions in 2013. He has now played 33 Tests for the Wallabies and has scored 18 tries.
Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver congratulated Folau on becoming the 1st player to claim the John Eales Medal in consecutive years.
“Israel is a special talent and a wonderful ambassador for our game. He has once again proven to be the most outstanding player for the Wallabies over the past year.
“It is a huge credit to Israel that he has been committed to learning the game and has developed into a truly world-class fullback.
“We are delighted that he will remain in our game for the long-term after signing a 3-year contract extension with Australian Rugby and the Waratahs this year, and we are excited to see what he can produce for the Wallabies at his 1st World Cup next month.”
The John Eales Medallist is voted for by Wallabies players on a 3-2-1 basis after each Test match. Folau accumulated the most points in the designated period from the 2014 Spring Tour, to the 2nd Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand earlier this month.
The 26-year-old also took the Super Rugby Try of the Year award for being the player deemed most responsible for Tolu Latu’s match-winning Round 6 try against the Brumbies.
The Wallabies depart on Saturday 29 August, to play an historic Test against the USA Eagles in Chicago on 5 September, before flying to the UK for a short training camp in Bath.
They then play their opening World Cup Pool A match against Fiji at Millennium Stadium on 23 September.
Other awards presented at the John Eales Medal ceremony included the latest inductees to the Wallaby Hall of Fame.
Pre-World War II Wallabies hooker John ‘Jock’ Blackwood, post-war scrumhalf Cyril Burke and star centre of the modern era, Tim Horan, were the 3 players chosen to join an elite group of just 32 others in the Wallaby Hall of Fame.
Each inductee was chosen for demonstrating outstanding ability, sportsmanship, commitment, character and personal contribution to their team and the game in their era.
After claiming 3 awards at last year’s John Eales Medal ceremony, Wallabies and Melbourne Rebels loose foward Sean McMahon continued his sharp trajectory in the game by being named Wallabies Rookie of the Year.
Michael Hooper was also on the winners list, voted for the 3rd consecutive year as ‘Australia’s Choice’ for Wallaby of the Year.
Hooper once again polled highest in the fan vote.
Wallabies and Brumbies flanker David Pocock capped off a triumphant return from back-to-back season-ending knee injuries, by winning the Super Rugby Player of the Year award.
Pocock’s Brumbies team mate, 25-year-old lock Rory Arnold, was named Super Rugby Rookie of the Year.
Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika collected the Super Rugby Coach of the Year award after leading the Waratahs to a 2nd consecutive Australian conference title.
The Waratahs, meanwhile, where once again the Super Rugby Team of the Year.
Ed Jenkins won The Shawn Mackay Award for Men’s Sevens Player of the Year, while Sharni Williams took the honours for Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in the 1st year that The Shaun Mackay Award was awarded across both teams.
As skipper of the women’s team Williams was a standout as the Aussies finished 3rd in the 2014 / 2015 Sevens World Series, which earned the side automatic qualification for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, where Rugby Sevens will debut as an Olympic sport.
In other awards, Anthony Moyes won the Roger Vanderfield Award for Referee of the Year, while Ariana Kaiwai won the Women’s Player of the Year award for her outstanding performance in the 2015 Women’s 15 National Championships.
Queensland flanker Michael Gunn got the nod as the Australian Under 20 Player of the Year after a series of powerful displays at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Italy.
Randwick Club legend Jeffrey Sayle was presented with the Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby award, and former ARU administrator, Women’s President and current Women’s Rugby Patron Joan Forno, received the Joe French Award for service to Australian Rugby.
The HSBC Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Gosford’s Andrew Ellem, while John Woodhouse of Kiwi Hawthorn Rugby Club was recognised as Lifetime Volunteer of the Year.
Lindfield’s Andrew Morbey claimed the Young Volunteer award.
Angus Gardner collected the Super Rugby Referee of the Series and Ted Vinson of Charters Towers Rugby Club took home the Community Coach of the Year.
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