Ikitau, Tuinakauvadra and Suaalii win big at Rugby Australia Awards

Wallabies centre Len Ikitau and Wallaroos backrower Tabua Tuinakauvadra have taken out major honours at the Rugby Australia Awards in Sydney. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii recieved another prestigious accolade, crowned Rookie of the Year.

Ikitau became a first-time recipient of the John Eales Medal at Rugby Australia’s night of nights on Friday, making the 27-year-old the first centre since the award’s inception in 2002 to be crowned the Wallabies Player of the Year.

The 48-Test midfielder set up Rugby Australia’s Try of the Year, throwing a one-handed offload to Max Jorgensen. ‘Jorgo’ flew down the left edge at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, before diving into the in-goal for a last-gasp try to beat England 42-37 one year ago.

That moment of brilliance was a sign of things to come for Ikitau, who has started another 12 Tests in the centres since that famous triumph in England. Ikitau has started every match this year at inside centre, alongside midfielder partner Suaalii.

Ikitau wasn’t able to attend the awards night after joining English side Exeter Chiefs on a short-term sabbatical, but the John Eales Medallist will return home at the start of the 2026 international season, signing a two-year deal with Rugby Australia.

“It’s been an awesome journey. This is probably one of the best years that I’ve enjoyed in the Wallabies jersey in terms of the way we’ve been playing, the way that we want to play,” Ikitau told reporters on Friday.

“It’s just been exciting. Obviously, there’s been a few games where we’ve lost but overall I’ve enjoyed my time this year.”

Following a record-breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, Tuinakauvadra was named the Wallaroos Player of the Year for the first time. Tuinakauvadra enjoyed a breakout campaign in the Pacific Four Series before starring at the sport’s showpiece event.

After starting pool matches against Samoa and the USA, Tuinakauvadra was selected on the bench for a crucial clash with eventual World Cup winners England. The No. 8 secured three turnovers during a noticeably impressive shift off the pine in Brighton & Hove.

Wallaroos centre Georgina Friedrichs was awarded Super Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, and Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano received the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year award after a standout season with the Western Force.

Ikitau’s centre partner Suaalii capped off a dream-like season in rugby union, taking out Rookie of the Year. Suaalii received Player of the Match honours on debut against England – before playing any Super Rugby – and continued to star during the Lions Series and TRC.

Aden Ekanayake and Sid Harvey from Australia Sevens shared Junior Men’s Player of the Year, while HSBC SVNS Series rising star Mackenzie Davis received Junior Women’s Player of the Year after a promising rookie campaign.

Faith Nathan and James Turner became first-time winners of the Shawn Mackay Award, which goes to the Sevens Player of the Year from the women’s and men’s sides. Nathan was chosen ahead of captain Isabella Nasser and try-scoring phenomenon Maddison Levi.

Levi didn’t leave the awards night empty-handed, receiving the media-voted Defender of the Year award after an unforgettable stop on Black Ferns Sevens’ Kelsey Teneti at the Singapore Sevens earlier this year.

Ella Goldsmith received the Referee of the Year award, the Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby Award went to Jo Staples from the Queensland Rugby Union, and RugbyWA’s John Edwards won the Joe French Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rugby.

John Carters from NSW Rugby was awarded the Geoff ‘Bunter’ Shaw Community Coach of the Year honour, and Craig Gardner from Tasmanian Rugby Referees received the Andrew Cole Community Match Official of the Year award.

2025 Rugby Australia Awards winners

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