Seven Queensland Prize-winners announced at 2019 Rugby Australia Awards

Thu, Nov 14, 2019, 11:00 AM
Reds Media Unit
by Reds Media Unit
Queensland's Fraser McReight wins back-to-back Junior Wallabies Player of the Year awards
Queensland's Fraser McReight wins back-to-back Junior Wallabies Player of the Year awards

Seven Queenslanders have been recognised at the 2019 Rugby Australia Awards held in Sydney tonight. 


Junior Wallabies captain, Fraser McReight secured back-to-back Player of the Year awards with the prodigious Queensland flanker earning recognition for his herculean performances at the World Rugby U20 Championships in Argentina, where his side fell agonisingly short in the Final against France. 

Two future stars shared the stage for the Rugby Australia Rookie of the Year as Queensland duo Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea and Jordan Petaia were both rewarded for their breakout years. 

Lefau-Fakaosilea and Petaia have both been long earmarked for the big stage and didn’t disappoint during their maiden campaigns with the Buildcorp Wallaroos and Qantas Wallabies respectively.

It was a night of celebration for the Qantas Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens sides with both teams having booked their place at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, as Bond University star Charlotte Caslick was named Women’s Sevens Player of the Year.

Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) Life Member and Souths club stalwart Peter ‘Doubles’ Daley was recognised with the Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby Award following decades of service to Rugby in Queensland and across Australia.

This was highlighted in 2019, as ‘Doubles’ encouraged the QRU to award two ‘Spirit of Rugby’ medals (one for each team) during every AIC First XV schoolboy game this season.

Former Reds scrumhalf turned match official Nic Berry was crowned the Roger Vanderfield TNT Referee of the Year, while Vaasa Afa from Easts Rugby Club in Brisbane earned the Geoff ‘Bunter’ Shaw Community Coach of the Year Award.

Following a standout Super Rugby season, 2019 Pilecki Medal winner Samu Kerevi was awarded the Vodafone Super Rugby Player of the Year.

Marika Koroibete capped-off an outstanding 2019 season by claiming the John Eales Medal, as Australian captain Grace Hamilton took home the Buildcorp Wallaroos Player of the Year award. 

In addition, legendary Australian halves pairing George Gregan and Stephen Larkham were both inducted into the Wallabies Hall of Fame.

Rugby Australia Chief Executive Raelene Castle congratulated all those recognised: “On behalf of Rugby Australia I congratulate all of our award winners for their tremendous contribution to the game in 2019.

“The Rugby Australia Awards is a night to celebrate everyone in our great game from the volunteers who run the game at the community level right through to the players, coaches and match officials representing the country on the international stage.

“Once again this year there were some outstanding highlights and achievements across the sport and tonight was a great opportunity to recognise some special individuals that delivered above and beyond throughout 2019,” said Castle.

2019 Rugby Australia Awards

HSBC Volunteer of the Year: Ben and Selina Blyton
Roger Vanderfield TNT Referee of the Year: Nic Berry
Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby Award: Peter ‘Doubles’ Daley
Joe French Award: Sharron Flahive
Geoff ‘Bunter’ Shaw Community Coach of the Year Award: Vaasa Afa
Junior Wallabies Player of the Year: Fraser McReight
Rugby Australia Rookie of the Year: Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea and Jordan Petaia
Rugby Australia Try of the Year: Nic White
Buildcorp Super W Player of the Year: Tayla Stanford
Vodafone Super Rugby Player of the Year: Samu Kerevi
Australia’s Choice – Qantas Wallaby of the Year: Michael Hooper
Buildcorp Wallaroos Player of the Year: Grace Hamilton
The Shawn MacKay Award – Men’s Sevens Player of the Year: Maurice Longbottom
The Shawn MacKay Award – Women’s Sevens Player of the Year: Charlotte Caslick
John Eales Medal: Marika Koroibete

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