With the impending announcement tomorrow, there’s no telling which player will take home RUPA’s coveted Medal for Excellence award this year, with one of the strongest line-ups of nominees yet.
RUPA’s pinnacle player’s player award, presented at the annual Volvo-RUPA Awards Lunch in Sydney, is bestowed to the Australian professional rugby player voted by his peers for his character and performance on and off the field across the last 12 months.
The RUPA Medal for Excellence is the oldest Australian rugby players’ player award in Australia. It has been awarded since 2001 to the most highly respected and successful player in Australia, as voted by his peers.
The Medal recognises playing successes, contribution to the community and efforts in furthering education and professional development. As such, it is more than just a ‘Best & Fairest’ award, and aims to acknowledge outstanding results achieved on and off the field.
The ten Medal for Excellence nominees are made up of the winners and second placed runners-up of each Australian Super Rugby team’s Players’ Player award, presented at their annual end of season awards events.
Super Rugby players across the five Australian teams then vote using a 3-2-1 points system for the nominees based on a set of four criteria, performance, leadership, consistency and discipline, across the domestic and international rugby season this year. Players must vote only for players outside their own Super Rugby side.
The Medal for Excellence is one of five players’ player awards at the annual RUPA Awards. Other awards presented on the day include the Academic Excellence Award and Community Service Award, which specifically recognise player’s off-field efforts, and the Volvo People’s Choice Award, as voted by fans.
Follow @RUPAnews on Twitter and Instagram for live announcements of each winner at the 2014 Volvo-RUPA Awards next Wednesday 10 December.
The ten nominees in line to win this year’s Medal for Excellence are:
Colby Fainga’a – Melbourne Rebels, winner of the 2014 Rebels Player’s Player Award
After making the move from the Brumbies, Colby was named Rebels Players’ Player after just his first season with the Melbourne side, in a year that also saw him earn his 50th Super Rugby cap. He played 15 matches for his new team this year, scoring a try in round 18 against the Lions.
Mitch Inman – Melbourne Rebels, runner-up of the 2014 Rebels Players’ Player Award
With 62 Super Rugby caps to his name, Mitch Inman has been runner up of the Players’ Player Award in every one of the three seasons he has been with the Rebels. Clearly a highly valued teammate, Mitch scored three Super Rugby tries this year against tough Aussie rivals, the Brumbies and the Queensland Reds.
Matt Hodgson – Western Force, winner of the 2014 Western Force Players’ Player Award, the Nathan Sharpe Medal
Matt Hodgson has had a remarkable year. The Western Force captain won the Players’ Player for the third year in a row and received his first call up to the Wallabies in four years. Matt’s inspirational season was topped off when he was named Captain of the Men in Gold in their opening Spring Tour match.
Ben McCalman – Western Force, runner-up of the 2014 Western Force Players’ Player Award, the Nathan Sharpe Medal
Ben McCalman showed some of his career best form this year, adding to one of the Western Force’s best season with four tries and finishing amongst the top ten ball carriers in the 2014 competition. Ben’s prowess on an off the field has seen him rise into an impressionable leader within the team.
Michael Hooper – NSW Waratahs, winner of the of the 2014 NSW Waratahs Players’ Player Award, the Matthew Burke Cup
It's been a huge year for Michael Hooper who, at just 22 years of age, became one of the youngest to ever Captain the Wallabies. In the 2014 Rugby Championship he polled as the second highest try-scorer and made the third highest amount of tackles, all whilst donning the leader’s cap for both his state and country.
Wycliff Palu – NSW Waratahs, runner up of the 2014 NSW Waratahs Players’ Player Award, the Matthew Burke Cup
Wycliff Palu returned to his rampaging best in 2014. With his 100th cap for the Waratahs, he became the seventh most capped for NSW and sixth most capped Super Rugby player. Wycliff has been a formidable force in the number 8 jersey, consistently putting his body on the line to gain significant metres for Australia and NSW.
Jarrad Butler – Brumbies, winner of the 2014 Brumbies Players’ Player Award, Brett Robinson’s Players’ Player
It was just his first year in Canberra, but Jarrad Butler made a significant impact in 2014, finishing with the second highest tackle count in the Super Rugby tournament. He won both the Brumbies’ and UC Vikings Players’ Player as voted by peers as well as the Brumbies’ Shawn MacKay Most Outstanding Young Talent.
Nic White – Brumbies, runner-up of the 2014 Brumbies Players’ Player Award, Brett Robinson’s Players’ Player
After cementing the number 9 jersey for the Brumbies, Nic White assisted their 2014 campaign with two tries, 21 tackle busts and 100 points from his boot in the Super Rugby tournament. Making his Test debut last year, Nic has also continued to add dynamism off the bench for the Wallabies.
James Slipper – Queensland Reds, winner of the the 2014 Queensland Reds’ Players’ Player Award, the Pilecki Medal
James Slipper has shown immense talent for the Queensland Reds and Wallabies this year, reaching some of his career best form. Constantly topping the stats for carries and tackles made, James was also amongst the top ten ball carriers in the 2014 Rugby Championship.
Jake Schatz – Queensland Reds, runner up of the 2014 Queensland Reds’ Players’ Player, the Pilecki Medal
It’s the second year in a row Jake has been runner up in the Reds’ Players Player Award following another impressive year. After being ruled out to injury in 2013, Jake was called up again to the Wallabies this year, becoming Wallaby number 884 in this year’s Rugby Championship.
