Tana Umaga has faith rewarded in first round of POTY votes

Wallabies and NSW Waratahs winger Max Jorgensen and Moana Pasifika captain Miracle Fai’ilagi have topped the Super Rugby Pacific MVP voting table after round one, claiming maximum points from their first game.

Jorgensen was impressive for the Waratahs in their opening round victory against the Queensland Reds with two tries, while Fai’ilagi scored a hat-trick in Moana Pasifika’s triumph against the Fijian Drua.

ACT Brumbies duo Declan Meredith and Charlie Cale are also near the top of the voting table after round one, helping their side secure a convincing victory against the Force in Perth.

Despite Tupou Vaa’i’s controversial try against the Blues on Saturday evening, the All Blacks lock sits in second equal at the top of the table alongside the duo from Canberra.

At the end of each Super Rugby Pacific round, until it goes behind closed doors after round ten, the competition will announce the Player of the Year votes from the weekend prior, and an updated table.

For every Super Rugby Pacific fixture each weekend, the head coaches and captains will submit their 3-2-1 votes for their top three opposition players, while an independent media panel member also submits 3-2-1 votes for each game.

The competition’s rookie of the year award will also be decided through the same voting process, with all players who began the season with four or less Super Rugby Pacific appearances (or equivalent top-flight professional rugby competition) eligible for the end-of-season award.

2026 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR