George Smith, Adam Ashley-Cooper, David Pocock, Berrick Barnes and Benn Robinson have been named as the finalists for the most prestigious award in Australian Rugby, the 2009 Rugby Union Players’ Award Medal for Excellence.

The Rugby Medal for Excellence will be announced at the RUPA Christmas Luncheon on Friday December 11th at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney, where a bumper crowd of about 500 are expected.  HSBC, SFS Trust and Skins are proud sponsors of the event, with PKF joining HSBC as sponsors of the player entertainment segment on the day.

The Medal for Excellence not only honours on-field achievements but also recognises rugby players who have gone above and beyond their responsibilities as professional rugby players by making a difference in their communities. Each player is asked to vote on a 3-2-1 basis for a fellow player who they believe excelled on and off the field in 2009 in areas of performance, leadership, consistency and discipline plus their contribution to charitable work, vocational skills and their commitment to the development of the game.

Wallaby flanker George Smith will be going for ‘3 in a row’, after winning the prestigious award in both 2007 and 2008.  Smith is once again nominated after another impressive season.  Off field Smith remains a motivational pillar in the Tongan Rugby community by tirelessly lending his time to promoting the development of youngsters in both Australia and Tonga.

Adam Ashley-Cooper has had a big season proving himself to be Mr. Versatile covering four different positions throughout the Test and provincial seasons. Ashley- Cooper has been associated with assisting individual children suffering from cancer and serious illness, and has proved to be an amazing ambassador for the sport, through his compassion and selfless attitude. 

20-year-old David Pocock is a finalist for the second consecutive year, proving to be an essential member of the Wallabies in season 2009. The Zimbabwean-born Pocock started his own charity – the Why Generation, is an active member of his church and also an active sponsor and ambassador for World Vision in Zimbabwe. 

Berrick Barnes has established himself as a world class inside back in 2009, further establishing his combination with Giteau in the midfield. When he is not playing he is heavily involved in sponsorship activities including many charity appearances off field. Barnes is a RUPA Foundation ambassador, and often lends his time to charity appearances.

In 2009 Benn Robinson stamped his mark as a world class front rower, starting in all 13 matches for the Waratahs in the 2009 Super Rugby series, finishing as runner up behind regular winner George Smith when the votes were tallied for the Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year award.  Nicknamed ‘Fat Cat’, the big front rower holds a position on the RUPA/ ARU OH&S committee, providing valuable input into Health and Safety related issues

The luncheon will also see RUPA announce the winner of the Best Newcomer of the Year Award, which both Pocock and Barnes have won in the past.

Also, new this year will be the inaugural “Rucks & Mauls Quiz Show” between the “HSBC Premier Team” v “the PKF Team” – see how players go against the buzzer in this hot competition.  Players have also donated their time to raise funds for charities by making themselves available for some unique auction items.  

Players in attendance will be all Waratahs, all Brumbies, Wallabies including Morgan Turinui, Berrick Barnes, George Smith, Adam Freier, Benn Robinson and Matt Dunning.

Past winners of the RUPA Medal for Excellence are:

2001 -      George Gregan

2002 -      Nathan Sharpe

2003 -      Brendan Cannon

2004 -      George Gregan

2005 -      Nathan Sharpe

2006 -      George Gregan

2007 -      George Smith

2008 -      George Smith

For tickets to the event, contact Front Row Events on 9439 3434, but be sure to get in quick as tickets are selling fast.