Game-breaking fullback Israel Folau’s huge value to rugby union has been underlined after he beat warm favourite and Wallabies captain Michael Hooper for the John Eales Medal on Thursday.
In just his second year in the 15-a-side code, Folau has added to an impressive tally of rugby union awards, by winning one voted on by his fellow Wallabies.
Folau polled 314 votes to finish clear of openside flanker Hooper (232), who was widely tipped to become the first player in the 14-year history of the medal to win it in successive years.
The two Waratahs shared the Super Rugby player of the year award, while Hooper was named Australia’s Choice player of the year.
In the John Eales Medal, prop James Slipper (208) was third, just ahead of centre Tevita Kuridrani (202).
Folau is only the fourth back in 14 years to win the medal after Chris Latham (2006), Matt Giteau (2009), and Kurtley Beale (2011).
The medal is voted for by the Wallabies on a 3-2-1 basis after each Test over the past 12 months, from last year’s spring tour to last weekend’s Bledisloe Cup Test.
Prolific tryscoing Folau comes off contract at the end of next year and has never ruled out moving back to rugby league, where he started his stellar professional career.
Folau 25, has scored 15 tries in 25 Tests, and his tally of 10 in 2013 equalled the most in a year by a Wallaby, set by another former rugby league star, Lote Tuqiri.
In 2013, Folau also won the Super Rugby rookie and Australian Rugby Players’ Association and International Rugby Players’ Association’s newcomer of the year awards.
Lock Sam Carter, who debuted against France in June and has played eight Tests, was named Wallabies rookie of the year.
New Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika won the Australian Super Rugby coach of the year after steering the NSW Waratahs to their maiden title, which earned them the Australian Super Rugby team of the year.
Folau apart, the big winner of the awards night at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse was Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon, who took out three awards.
Uncapped McMahon, who was named on Wednesday in the Wallabies spring tour squad, won the Australian U20s player of the Year; the National Rugby Championship Player of the series; and the Super Rugby rookie of the Year.
Emilee Cherry won the awards for women’s player of the year in both sevens and 15-a-side, while Cameron Clark was named male sevens player of the year.
BACKS TO HAVE WON THE JOHN EALES MEDAL
*Chris Latham (2006)
*Matt Giteau (2009)
*Kurtley Beale(2011)
*Israel Folau 2014
JOHN EALES MEDAL ROLL OF HONOUR
*2002: George Smith
*2003: Phil Waugh
*2004: David Lyons
*2005: Jeremy Paul
*2006: Chris Latham
*2007: Nathan Sharpe
*2008: George Smith
*2009: Matt Giteau
*2010: David Pocock
*2011: Kurtley Beale
*2012: Nathan Sharpe
*2013: Michael Hooper
*2014: Israel Folau
