Six SVNS Series stars shine with honours at Rugby Australia Awards

HSBC SVNS Series stars Faith Nathan and James Turner have received top individual honours at the 2025 Rugby Australia Awards, beating world-class nominees in the race for the women’s and men’s Sevens Player of the Year.

Nathan was one of three finalists for the women’s Shawn Mackay Award, with SVNS Series try-scoring phenomenon Maddison Levi and Australia Sevens captain Isabella Nasser also nominated after the 2024/25 season.

At the Perth Sevens, Nathan made a difference on the defensive side of the ball, stopping what seemed like a certain try with a chase-back try. The two-time Olympian then bounced up, securing a turnover as Australia continued their charge for the title.

That’s just one of the many highlights to speak of from Nathan’s award-winning season in the gold jersey. Nathan continued to soar in the 2025 season as one of the world’s best, scoring some crucial tries in big matches.

Levi was looking to make it a three-peat of Shawn Mackay awards, having taken out the honour for a second time at the Rugby Australia Awards 351 days ago. The Queenslander was also crowned World Rugby’s Player of the Year at the sport’s night of nights in Monaco.

While Levi wasn’t named the Player of the Year, the record-breaking try-scorer collected the media-voted Defender of the Year after an unforgettable tackle on New Zealand’s Kelsey Teneti in the SVNS Singapore Cup Final about 190 days ago.

Nasser was the other nominee, having led by example after replacing 2016 Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Caslick as team captain one week out from the season opener – later helping the team end their title drought on home soil in Perth.

As for the men’s team, Turner was consistent and reliable during another exciting season for the Australia Sevens side. Turner received the Shawn Mackay Award ahead of three-time Olympian Henry Hutchison and Henry Paterson.

2025 SVNS Series rookies Aden Ekanyake and Sid Harvey shared the Junior Men’s Player of the Year accolade, with Ekanyake scoring the winner in a thriller against the Blitzboks in Perth. Harvey was recently named in the Australia A squad after impressing for the Waratahs.

Mackenzie Davis took home the Junior Women’s Player of the Year, with a hat-trick against Paris Olympics silver medallists Canada in Singapore standing out as a highlight, with the youngster speaking with RugbyPass after that Player of the Match-calibre performance.

“I guess I’m lucky to be surrounded by some amazing players like Maddi Levi, getting 200 yesterday,” Davis said.

“It’s always tough after a loss but getting to back it up straight away, it’s a good thing,” she added when asked about losing the Hong Kong Sevens Final last weekend. “We’re still fresh and we’re still ready to go for one more.”

Wallabies centre Len Ikitau and Wallaroos No. 8 Tabua Tuinakauvadra became first-time recipients of major awards on Rugby Australia’s night of nights, taking out their respective Player of the Year honours. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was crowned Rookie of the Year, 12 months on from his move across codes.

Wallabies and Western Force flanker Carlo Tizzano was named Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year, while Wallaroos and NSW Waratahs centre received the Super Rugby Women’s accolades.

Ella Goldsmith won 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 was awarded the Andrew Cole Community Match Official of the Year.

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