Pocock & O’Donnell take player of the year honours at Rugby Australia Awards

David Pocock has capped his stellar return to international Rugby by claiming the John Eales Medal at the 2018 Rugby Australia Awards at Randwick Racecourse.
 

 

Pocock wins the award for the second time in his decade-long career, having previously collected the medal in 2010.
 

Amassing 262 votes from his Wallabies teammates since the start of the Ireland Series, Pocock took the award despite not playing in every match during the award voting period. 

 

 

 

Also taking top honours on the night were Australian Sevens stars Evania Pelite and Ben O’Donnell, who scooped the Sevens Player of the Year awards named in memory of the late Shawn MacKay.
 

Pelite and O’Donnell were standouts on the HSBC Sevens World Series in 2017-2018 with Pelite amassing 13 tries for the World Series-champion Aussie women, and O’Donnell bursting onto the scene to finish 8th on the tryscorers list in the men’s series with 32 tries in his rookie campaign.
 

 

Fellow rookie Emily Chancellor took out the Player of the Year award for the Wallaroos after two outstanding performances against New Zealand’s Black Ferns in August. 

 

 

Three former greats were inducted into the Wallabies Hall of Fame, including pre-War hooker Eddie Bonis (Wallaby 261, 21 caps), former number eight, Tim Gavin (Wallaby 670, 47 caps) and former Wallabies captain and dual Rugby World Cup-winning hooker, Phil Kearns (Wallaby 681, 67 caps).  
 

 

HSBC Volunteer of the Year: Ian Frame (Knox Rugby Club)

HSBC Volunteer of the Year: Tilly Vlok (Box Hill Rugby Club)

Roger Vanderfield TNT Referee of the Year: Angus Gardner

Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby Award: Scott Fardy

Joe French Award: Ron Graham

Geoff ‘Bunter’ Shaw Community Coach of the Year Award: Matthew Chapman (Miami State High)

Under 20s Player of the Year: Fraser McReight (Queensland)

Rugby Australia Rookie of the Year: Taniela Tupou (Qantas Wallabies)

Rugby Australia Try of the Year:  Taqele Naiyaravoro v Rebels (Round 5 – Super Rugby)

Buildcorp Super W Player of the Year: Shanice Parker (NSW Women)

Vodafone Super Rugby Player of the Year: Taniela Tupou (Queensland Reds)

Australia’s Choice – Qantas Wallaby of the Year: David Pocock

Buildcorp Women’s XV Player of the Year: Emily Chancellor

The Shawn MacKay Award – Men’s Sevens Player of the Year: Ben O’Donnell

The Shawn MacKay Award – Women’s Sevens Player of the Year: Evania Pelite

John Eales Medal: David Pocock