One of Australia’s top footy stars stuns with a very revealing outfit as she takes the top gong at glamorous rugby awards
It was a case of dressed up and fair as some of the country’s best football players turned up the glitz and glamor at the Rugby Australia Awards in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Back grower Rob Valetini took the biggest gong on the night as he won the John Eales Medal as the Wallabies Player of the Year for the second season in a row – with Maddison Levi winning the Women’s Sevens Player award and dazzling on the red carpet in a striking dress with a very daring cut.
She was joined in the fashion stakes by her Sevens teammate Charlotte Caslick in a figure-hugging dress, and Wallaroos star Desiree Miller in a striking red backless dress.
Sevens try scoring machine Faith Nathan also cut a striking figure as she arrived with her rugby star boyfriend Matt Gonzalez, and her teammate Teagan Levi dazzled in a black ensemble.
Speaking after the ceremony, Valetini said he feels blessed after joining Australian rugby royalty as a double John Eales medalist.
The dynamic back rower joined contemporary greats Israel Folau (2014-15) and Michael Hooper (2020-21) as only the third man to go back-to-back.
The 26-year-old is also the sixth player to win the prestigious gong multiple times, joining George Smith (2002, 2008), Nathan Sharpe (2007, 2012), David Pocock (2010, 2018), Folau (2014, 2015). , 2017), Hooper (2013, 2016, 2020, 2021) and Marika Koroibete (2019, 2022) the others to achieve this feat.
“Blessed and grateful to have won the award,” Valetini told reporters.
Maddison Levi won the award as Aussie rugby’s best women’s sevens player on Wednesday night – and was also a winner on the red carpet
Wallaroos star Desiree Miller also made the list of dressed and fairest as she made her entrance to the glittering ceremony at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney
Sevens star Charlotte Caslick arrived in a striking, figure-hugging dress
“I couldn’t do this without my teammates doing their job and the coaching staff supporting me to play my game.
‘I’m not the type of guy who chases medals. I just love rugby and I think I owe that to my training and my consistency in it, and to the people who have helped me and made a lot of sacrifices to make me who I am.”
Voted on a 3-2-1 basis by teammates, Valetini defeated Queensland Reds flanker Fraser McReight after enjoying another standout year for the Wallabies in 2024.
He played in all nine Tests and is sure to play a crucial role in next month’s spring tour of Great Britain and Ireland, when the Wallabies have a chance to complete the legendary grand slam with Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and the top ranked players. Irish.
The ACT Brumbies enforcer wasn’t the only consecutive award winner, with McReight defending his Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year title, and Maddison Levi once again named Women’s Sevens Player of the Year.
Footy star couple Faith Nathan and Mark Gonzalez also dazzled as they advanced on the Aussie Rugby Union’s night of nights
Pictured: Women’s and Men’s Players of the Year Maya Stewart and Rob Valetini
From left to right: stars Tia Hinds, Teagan Levi and Maddison Levi
Prolific NSW Waratahs winger Maya Stewart was crowned the Wallaroos Player of the Year after scoring nine tries in eight Tests and inspiring the team’s historic win at the WXV 2 tournament in South Africa.
Nathan Lawson won the Men’s Sevens Player of the Year award, while Brumbies captain Siokapesi Palu was named Super Rugby Women’s Player of the Year.
Exciting 21-year-old Reds winger Tim Ryan capped his stellar breakthrough season by taking home the Rookie of the Year award along with the Try of the Year for an electrifying solo performance against the Blues at Suncorp Stadium .
Australian Under-20 captain Toby Macpherson was named junior men’s player of the year, and 18-year-old Caitlyn Halse took the junior women’s gong after securing the starting fullback for the Wallaroos.
The referee of the year award went to Nic Berry who, along with his key testing commitments, was appointed to officiate the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific final.
The awards ceremony also saw Toutai Kefu and Matthew Burke inducted into the Wallabies Hall of Fame, and Selena Tranter (nee Worsley), Cheryl McAfee (nee Soon) and Emilee Barton (nee Cherry) inducted into the Australian Women’s Rugby Hall of Fame.