Wallabies and Wallaroos stars claim top honours at Rugby Australia Awards

Fraser McReight has capped off a career-best 12 months in Wallaby gold by winning the coveted John Eales Medal at the 2026 Rugby Australia Awards, while 21-year-old Faitala Moleka has been crowned the Wallaroos Player of the Year.

McReight stepped into the shoes of Wallabies giant Michael Hooper ahead of Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023 and has forged his own path at the highest level. The flanker has received praise from all over the rugby world, and has now been recognised as the Wallabies’ best and fairest.

Two-time John Eales Medal recipient Rob Valetini described McReight as “one of the best sevens” in the world before facing France in the July Nations Championship. McReight went on to score a couple of tries, won two turnovers and made 17 tackles.

1999 Rugby World Cup winner Jeremy Paul, former Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt, and current All Blacks coach Dave Rennie have all spoken highly of McReight over the years, with the headgear-wearing openside standing out consistently.

McReight set the tone during the 2025 Autumn Nations Series, finishing with five turnovers and a team-high number of tackles against England. After captaining the Queensland Reds during the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, McReight picked up right where he’d left off at Test level.

The Wallabies showed glimpses of promise against Six Nations juggernauts France and Ireland during the Nations Championship, before completing that block with a dominant win over Italy in Perth, with McReight coming off the bench.

McReight has since scored tries against the Brave Blossoms in Osaka, and five-pointers in both Tests away to Los Pumas. Coach Les Kiss has regularly turned to the established backrow trio of Rob Valetini and McReight on the flanks, with captain Harry Wilson at No. 8.

Rugby Australia has also celebrated Faitala Moleka as a first-time Wallaroos Player of the Year, although the utility wasn’t at the awards night in Sydney to collect the accolade. Moleka is on tour with the Australia Nex Gen U21s team.

Moleka was the first-choice Wallaroos fly-half at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, but the ACT Brumbies product has showcased remarkable versatility across the backline this season, having played at both fullback and in the midfield.

Waiaria Ellis has made the starting No. 10 jersey her own throughout breakout campaigns with both the NSW Waratahs and Wallaroos, and has been recognised as the Junior Women’s Player of the Year.

Amelia Whitaker, who has been nominated for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, has been named the Santos Women’s Rookie of the Year. Whitaker was the NSW Waratahs Player of the Year and finished the Wallaroos season with three tries in two games.

Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona has collected the Cadbury Try of the Year and finishing a long-range team effort against Scotland last week. Retiring centre Cecilia Smith was heavily involved in setting up Sekona, who crossed for a crucial score in a thrilling Test.

Before the HSBC SVNS Series gets underway next month at the Dubai Sevens, Australia Sevens captains Isabella Nasser and Henry Hutchison have been awarded the top individual honours available to the players in each team.

Nasser led the Aussies to the HSBC SVNS World Championship title with Cup Final victories in Valladolid and Bordeaux, and has been crowned the Shawn Mackay Award for Women’s Sevens Player of the Year.

Hutchison helped drive the Aussie men’s side to a drought-breaking Cup Final triumph on the same weekend in Valladolid, Spain. ‘Hutch’ is now chasing a fourth Olympic Games after re-signing with the program until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

2026 Rugby Australia Awards – winners list

John Eales Medal – Fraser McReight

Wallaroos Player of the Year – Faitala Moleka

Shawn Mackay Award for Men’s Sevens Player of the Year – Henry Hutchison

Shawn Mackay Award for Women’s Sevens Player of the Year – Isabella Nasser

Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year – Jock Campbell, Queensland Reds

Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s Player of the Year – Siokapesi Palu Sekona

Santos Men’s Rookie of the Year Award – Treyvon Pritchard, Queensland Reds

Santos Women’s Rookie of the Year Award – Amelia Whitaker, Wallaroos

Junior Men’s Player of the Year – Edwin Langi, Australia U20 and NSW Waratahs

Junior Women’s Player of the Year – Waiaria Ellis, Wallaroos and NSW Waratahs

Cadbury Try of the Year – Siokapesi Palu Sekona, Wallaroos vs. Scotland, Canberra

Defender of the Year – Fraser McReight, Wallabies vs. France, Brisbane

FedEx Referee of the Year – Nic Berry

Peter Meagher Spirit of Rugby Award – Paula Watkins, Queensland Rugby Union

Joe French Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rugby – Craig Robberds, ACT Rugby

Geoff ‘Bunter’ Shaw Community Coach of the Year Award – Kieran Smith, NSW Rugby

Andrew Cole Community Match Official of the Year – Julius Ambat, NSW Rugby