Rugby's night of nights is here as the 2025 Rugby Australia Awards celebrate the best and brightest.
It's a stacked night of events celebrating all levels of the sport in what was a massive year for the sport.
Watch Australia A take on Japan XV this Saturday live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
Rob Valetini and Maya Stewart are the defending John Eales Medalists and Wallaroos Player of the Year, respectively.
However, injury-affected years for the pair means there will be at least one new winner this evening.
There are also the Shawn Mackay Awards, with the likes of Maddison Levi, Henry Hutchison and Henry Paterson out to add to their haul while Faith Nathan, Isabella Nasser and James Turner hunt for their first.
FOLLOW BELOW FOR ALL THE ACTION FROM THE 2025 RUGBY AUSTRALIA AWARDS
John Eales Medal - Len Ikitau
Wallaroos Player of the Year - Tabua Tuinakauvadra
Shawn Mackay Award for Men's Sevens Player of the Year - James Turner
Shawn Mackay Award for Women's Sevens Player of the Year - Faith Nathan
SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year - Carlo Tizzano, Western Force
SMARTECH Super Rugby Women's Player of the Year - Georgina Friedrichs, NSW Waratahs
Santos Rookie of the Year Award - Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, NSW Waratahs & Wallabies
Junior Men's Player of the Year - Aden Ekanayake, Men's 7s/AUS U20s & Sid Harvey, Men's 7s/AUS U20s
Junior Women's Player of the Year - Mackenzie Davis, Women's 7s
Cadbury Try of the Year - Max Jorgensen, Wallabies vs. England
Defender of the Year - Maddison Levi, Women's 7s vs. NZ, Singapore
Fedex Referee of the Year - Ella Goldsmith
Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby Award - Jo Staples, Queensland Rugby Union
Joe French Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rugby - John Edwards, RugbyWA
Geoff 'Bunter' Shaw Community Coach of the Year Award - John Carters, NSW Rugby
Andrew Cole Community Match Official of the Year - Craig Gardner, Tasmanian Rugby Referees
Centre Len Ikitau wraps up the night of firsts with his maiden John Eales Medal.
Ikitau, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson were the three nominees for the award, with the midfielder pipping the Reds duo for the honour.
Ikitau is not at the award ceremony, currently in Exeter, preparing for his Premiership debut in the coming days/weeks.
Before we get to the John Eales Medal, there’s a special tribute for departing legend James Slipper.
Slipper called time on his career in Perth after the Bledisloe Cup after becoming the first Australian to 150 caps.
For a front-rower that doesn’t like attention, Slipper takes the gesture well and says some nice words.
Big applause in the room as Tabua Tuinakauvadra takes out Wallaroos Player of the Year.
The bubbly back-rower goes one better than last year and becomes the youngest to take out the gong.
Desiree Miller and Cecilia Smith are the other nominees, with the popular Brumby accepting the award.
Onto the main awards and it’s a pair of first time winners in Faith Nathan and James Turner for the Shawn Mackay Awards.
Maddison Levi and Bella Nasser finished the year as part of the SVNS Dream Team but Nathan’s consistency throughout the year makes her a deserving winner.
Likewise, Turner, the speedy winger, earns the nod over the two Henrys - Hutchison and Paterson.
The second lot of awards are wrapped up and now it’s just the major four.
A little break for dessert as we await the Sevens, Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year.
Stay tuned and we’ll be back at 9:40 pm
Western Force flanker Carlo Tizzano has beaten out a hot field to take out Super Rugby Player of the Year.
Fellow flanker Fraser McReight was gunning for a third straight award; however, a big year from Tizzano gives the Force their first honour at either SRP or SRW level.
Georgina Friedrichs takes out Super Rugby Women’s Player of the Year after a fine season for the Waratahs.
Incredibly, it's the first time a Waratah has won the award since Shanice Parker in 2018.
Desiree Miller and Tiarah Minns were the other two nominees, with Miller still a chance for Wallaroos Player of the Year later in the evening.
Ella Goldsmith has been named Referee of the Year after a big year for the official.
Goldsmith has bested two of the best referees in the world in Angus Gardner and Nic Berry for the award after a breakout year for the referee.
Goldsmith was the first Australian since Amy Perrett to referee a finals match at the Women’s World Cup, taking charge of the bronze medal match between New Zealand and France.
It was a big year for tries in Australian Rugby but Max Jorgensen’s extra-time winner against England takes out the honour.
The fan-voted award goes to the Wallabies winger for a play that’ll live on in the history books in Australian Rugby and arguably turned around the fortunes of the national side.
Teddy Wilson and the Waratahs’ team try against the Chiefs is a really unlucky loser, but Jorgensen’s try is a popular one in the room and among the fans.
The Defender of the Year goes to Maddison Levi, who is unable to accept, as she prepares for the Aussie 7s’ pre-season games in Toowoomba.
Levi wins it for her incredible try-saving tackle against New Zealand during the Singapore Final.
Freakish is thrown around often these days but even on replay, that’s the only word to describe that effort.
It’s a tie! Sid Harvey and Aden Ekanayake share the Men’s Junior Player of the Year.
It’s fitting for the duo who have been around the world together over the last 12 months, starting with the Sevens before heading to Italy with the U20s.
Harvey was set to play for Australia A in Japan tomorrow, but is nursing a hamstring strain.
Mackenzie Davis has been rewarded for her strong Sevens debut season with the Women’s Junior Player of the Year.
World Cup star Caitlyn Halse and Waiaria Ellis are also up for the honour, but the blistering Davis gets the nod.
Davis was massive for the injury-hit Sevens program, turning plenty of heads with her turn of pace.
It’s felt inevitable since his debut almost 12 months ago but it’s official: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is the 2025 Rookie of the Year.
Suaalii has taken the sport by storm since entering the Wallabies environment without a Super Rugby cap and shone at both Test and Super Rugby level.
He beats out Aden Ekanayake, Waiaria Eliis and Mackenzie Davis
The community awards are done and it’s time for dinner.
Onto the Junior and Super Rugby awards at 8:30 pm-ish
Some deserving Tasmanian representation as Tasmanian Rugby Union Referees Association president and veteran match official Craig Gardner wins the Andrew Cole Community Match Official of the Year.
Gardner was most recently invited to attend the upcoming Dubai 7s and Super Rugby U19s as a match official developer.
Veteran NSW coach John Carters has taken out the Geoff 'Bunter' Shaw Community Coach of the Year Award.
Carters has been a staple of country NSW Rugby and has coached a variety of representative sides within the state, including the under-age Waratahs.
A champion of WA Rugby has been recognised as John Edwards claims the Joe French Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rugby.
Edwards has done everything in the game and is a big reason for the Western Force being in the position they are today.
He was recently handed life membership to Rugby WA after 11 years of services on the board and as Chair.
Jo Staples has been awarded the Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby Award.
She has been a massive part of the Queensland Rugby system throughout her time being involved in the game, especially in the women’s area.
Line of the night so far when asked how she juggles all her responsibilities and roles, whether it’s team manager, match offical or medic.
“I got divorced”
A wonderful speech about how Rugby saved her life and the importance of volunteering.
Quick break after the Hall of Fame inductions.
Stay turned as the awards role in - first the community ones
There are two new inductions into the Hall of Fame with George Smith and Tui Ormsby honoured.
Smith is a worthy induction into the Wallabies Hall of Fame as one of the best flankers of his generation in the gold jersey across over a decade.
Likewise, Ormsby, who is a trailblazer in every definition of the word in Women’s Rugby and goes into the Australian Women’s Hall of Fame.
We’re underway at the RA Awards, with Matt Burke and Steph Brantz your hosts for the evening.
RA CEO Phil Waugh starts the night with an address, recapping a great year that was in Rugby along with a nice video package for Burke - who went into the World Rugby Hall of Fame earlier in the year.
Stay turned as the awards role in - first the community ones
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the 2025 Rugby Australia Awards
Rugby's superstars are just about to walk the red carpet, with the ceremony set to commence in just over an hour.
Follow this blog to find out the award winners from the night or Rugby AU socials.
As a reminder, here are the nominees for the major awards for the night, with the John Eales Medal shortlist to be announced later in the night.
*Indicates winner
Len Ikitau
Fraser McReight
Harry Wilson
Desiree Miller
Cecilla Smith
Tabua Tuinakauvadra
Men's
Henry Hutchinson
Henry Paterson
James Turner
Women's
Maddison Levi
Isabella Nasser
Faith Nathan
Langi Gleeson (NSW Waratahs)
Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies)
Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds)
Carlo Tizzano (Western Force)
Tom Wright (ACT Brumbies)
Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs)
Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs)
Tiarah Minns (QLD Reds)
Aden Ekanayake (Men's 7s)
Mackenzie Davis (Women's 7s)
Waiaria Ellis (Wallaroos)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (NSW Waratahs/Wallabies)
Aden Ekanayake (Men’s 7s/AUS U20s)
Sid Harvey (Men’s 7s/AUS U20s)
Eamon Doyle (AUS U20s)
Mackenzie Davis (Women's 7s)
Caitlyn Halse (NSW Waratahs/Wallaroos)
Waiaria Ellis (NSW Waratahs/Wallaroos)
1. Max Jorgensen v England, Spring Tour
2. Charlotte Caslick v USA, PAC4
3. Teddy Wilson v Chiefs, Super Rugby Pacific
4. Georgina Friedrichs v Reds, Super Rugby Women’s Grand Final
5. Heidi Dennis v NZ, Perth 7s
6. Sid Harvey v Fiji, Hong Kong 7s
Jayden Blake v Blitzboks, Perth 7s
Maddison Levi v NZ, Singapore
Ashley Marsters v Black Ferns, PAC4
Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii v Hurricanes, Super Rugby Pacific
