Qantas Wallabies flyhalf Matt Giteau has won the 2009 John Eales Medal.

 

Giteau has become only the second back to carry off the honour in the eight-year history of the award, replicating the success of former Test fullback Chris Latham in 2006.

 

The winner of the John Eales Medal, the most prestigious individual award in Australian Rugby, is determined by the votes cast by Qantas Wallabies players on a 3-2-1 basis after each Test.

 

The top five in the voting for this year – taking in all Tests from the start of the 2008 Spring Tour to Europe until the end of the 2009 Tri Nations series last month – were:

 

*        MATT GITEAU (190 votes)

*        NATHAN SHARPE (162 votes)

*        GEORGE SMITH (161 votes)

*        BENN ROBINSON (132 votes)

*        ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER (106 votes)

 

The top five contenders were announced last month and were also in the running for the Australia’s Choice – Wallaby of the Year award, where the general public vote online for the player they believe to be the most outstanding during the year.

 

Qantas Wallabies prop BENN ROBINSON topped the public poll.

 

Other award winners on the night included:

 

*                Qantas Wallabies young gun JAMES O’CONNOR who was named Rookie of the Year following his elevation to the Test ranks on last year’s Spring Tour

 

*                1991 World Cup winning captain NICK FARR-JONES who was the recipient of the Joe French Award for services to the game

 

*                Qantas Wallabies utility back ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER who received the Try of the Year for his effort against the Springboks in Cape Town

 

*                Australian Women’s star DEBBY HODGKINSON who was a dual winner, taking out the Sevens Player of the Year and the Women’s Player of the Year awards

 

*                JAMES SLIPPER who was named Under 20 Player of the Year

 

*                STUART DICKINSON who was named Referee of the Year

 

*                STEVE GANN who was named Volunteer of the Year

 

The Sevens Player of the Year award was introduced this year and named in honour of Shawn Mackay, the former Australian Sevens captain who was tragically killed after being struck by a car while on tour with the Brumbies in South Africa during the 2009 Super Rugby season.

 

The award was presented to Hodgkinson tonight by Mackay’s father John.

 

The Referee of the Year award was also named after Roger Vanderfield this year in memory of the late former Test referee, IRB Chairman and ARU President who passed away in 2008.

 

Tributes were also paid at the John Eales Medal awards night to the 1984 Grand Slam Wallabies, to mark the historic 25th anniversary of their unbeaten four-Test march through England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

 

Several members of the 1984 squad presented awards – those in attendance were coach Alan Jones, skipper Andrew Slack, David Campese, Mark Ella, Simon Poidevin, Nick Farr-Jones, Steve Williams and Roger Gould.

 

The full list of award winners on the night were:

 

*        John Eales Medal: MATT GITEAU

*        Australia’s Choice – Wallaby of the Year: BENN ROBINSON

*        Joe French Award: NICK FARR-JONES

*        Rookie of the Year: JAMES O’CONNOR

*        Try of the Year: ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER

*        Women’s Player of the Year: DEBBY HODGKINSON

*        Sevens Player of the Year – Shawn Mackay Award: DEBBY       HODGKINSON

*        Volunteer of the Year: STEVE GANN

*        Under 20s Player of the Year: JAMES SLIPPER

*        Referee of the Year: STUART DICKINSON

*        The 2009 Hall of Fame inductees – JON WHITE, the late Dr ALEC ROSS and the late TONY MILLER – were also acknowledged.

 

Previous winners of the John Eales Medal are:

2002 – George Smith

2003 – Phil Waugh

2004 – David Lyons

2005 – Jeremy Paul

2006 – Chris Latham

2007 – Nathan Sharpe

2008 – George Smith