Hodgson takes out 2014 Volvo People's Choice Award

Western Force captain Matt Hodgson has taken out the 2014 Volvo People’s Choice Award at the RUPA Awards Lunch today in Sydney.


The Award was voted by close to 1,500 rugby supporters across the country for the player they thought best demonstrated the spirit of rugby in Australia.


Inaugural player Hodgson led the Force to its most successful season of Super Rugby in its history with his individual performances on the field earning him three man-of-the-match performances, six tries and was crowned the 2014 Nathan Sharpe Medallist.


Hodgson’s inspirational journey was capped off after receiving his first call up to the Wallabies in four years, and later named to Captain the Men in Gold in their opening 2014 Spring Tour match.


Queensland Reds and Wallabies prop, James Slipper was announced as this year’s recipient of the coveted Medal for Excellence Award.


Slipper was a run-away leader of votes from his peers, following an impressive year for his state and country. Known for his good nature off the field, and powerful performances during game time, Slipper has shown some of his career best form in 2014.


Slipper joins last year’s winner, Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins, and other outstanding Australian rugby players, including Berrick Barnes, George Gregan, George Smith and four-time-winner Nathan Sharpe, as a recipient of the Medal for Excellence.


The Medal is more than just a Player’s Player Award, with all Super Rugby players asked to vote for both on and off field efforts. Votes are cast using a 3-2-1 points system based on a set of four key criteria, leadership, performance, consistency and discipline.


The top ten finalists are taken from the top two players’ player votes at each Australian Super Rugby team.


Henry Speight and Pat McCutcheon were announced as joint winners of this year’s Community Service Award. Henry raised over $30,000 for Walk On Walk Strong (WOWS) Kids, a Foundation in Fiji that supports children with cancer and their families, recently shaving his hair for the cause.


The Fijian born Brumbies winger, who became Wallaby number 888 this year, is renowned for his humble dedication to causes and service in the community.


Pat McCutcheon has dedicated a lot of his time to community activities in metropolitan and regional areas of his state, having grown up in the NSW country town of Narromine.


The NSW Waratahs’ representative is also an Ambassador of the Raise Foundation, and supports several charities including Save our Sons, Batyr - One Sock One Goal and the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.


Unsung hero, Jeremy Tilse was another Waratahs player to be recognised off the field, receiving the award for Academic Excellence.


In 2014 Tilse completed an Advanced Diploma of Management, adding to his line-up of off-field endeavours, including a Certificate IV in Building and Construction that he has previously accomplished.


The Buildcorp NRC Players’ Player, a new award in 2014 following the inaugural tournament this year, was awarded to Samu Kerevi.


Despite missing the Buildcorp NRC Final due to injury, Samu proved extremely valuable for Brisbane City’s campaign, scoring and setting up plenty of tries and recording a man of the match performance in round one.


The Melbourne Rebels’ Sean McMahon added to his line-up of honours in 2014, topping players’ votes for Newcomer of the Year.


In the rugby Sevens category, Cameron Clark took out the award for Men’s Sevens Player’s Player, while Emilee Cherry won Women’s Sevens Player’s Player.


This is the second year in a row Emilee has topped the players’ poll, following yet another successful year with the Australian Women’s Sevens. After stamping his authority as one of the premier Sevens players on the World circuit, Cameron too received the highest amount of votes from teammates.


The RUPA Awards provide Australia’s professional rugby players with the opportunity to vote and be voted by those who know them best, their peers. The Medal for Excellence, Newcomer of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Sevens Players’ Player and Buildcorp NRC Players’ Player Awards are all voted by players.


The annual awards are also an opportunity to recognise professional Australian rugby players for their off-field endeavours. RUPA’s five Player Development Managers, who work within each of the Australian Super Rugby teams, put forward the nominees for the Academic Excellence and Community Service Awards.


The list of all the 2014 RUPA Award winners and nominees are below.


Medal for Excellence
Winner: James Slipper (Queensland Reds)


Nominees:
Jarrad Butler (Brumbies)
Nic White (Brumbies)
Colby Fainga’a (Melbourne Rebels)
Mitch Inman (Melbourne Rebels)
Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
Ben McCalman (Western Force)
Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs)
Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
Jake Schatz (Queensland Reds)


Academic Achievement Award
Winner: Jeremy Tilse (NSW Waratahs)
Nominees:
Pama Fou (Sevens)
Tala Gray (NSW Waratahs)
Samu Kerevi (Queensland Reds)
Tom Kingston (Melbourne Rebels)
Chris Kuridrani (Queensland Reds)
Jeremy Tilse (NSW Waratahs)


Community Service Award – Presented by Hall Chadwick
Winner: Pat McCutcheon (NSW Waratahs) and Henry Speight (Brumbies)
Nominees:
Nathan Charles (Western Force)
Colby Fainga’a (Melbourne Rebels)
James Hanson (Queensland Reds)
Pat McCutcheon (NSW Waratahs)
Henry Speight (Brumbies)


Volvo People’s Choice Award – Presented by Volvo Cars Australia
Winner: Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
Nominees:
Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs)
Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs)
Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs)
James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
Matt Toomua (Brumbies)
Scott Fardy (Brumbies)
Ben McCalman (Western Force)
Scott Higginbotham (Melbourne Rebels)


Newcomer of the Year
Winner: Sean McMahon (Melbourne Rebels)
Nominees:
Taqele Naiyaravoro (NSW Waratahs)
Samu Kerevi (Queensland Reds)
Sean McMahon (Melbourne Rebels)
Adam Coleman (Western Force)
JP Smith (Brumbies)


Buildcorp NRC Players’ Player – Presented by Buildcorp
Winner: Samu Kerevi (Brisbane City)
Nominees:
Samu Kerevi (Brisbane City)
Jack Debreczeni (Melbourne Rising)
Andrew Kellaway (NSW Country Eagles)
Nick Frisby (Brisbane City)
Sean McMahon (Melbourne Rising)


Men’s Sevens Players’ Player – Presented by AFEX
Winner: Cameron Clark
Nominees:
Cameron Clark
Jesse Parahi
Greg Jeloudev
Con Foley
Ed Jenkins


Women’s Sevens Players’ Player
Winner: Emilee Cherry
Nominees:
Shannon Parry
Charlotte Caslick
Alicia Quirk
Sharni Williams
Emilee Cherry


- See more at: http://www.westernforce.com.au/artic....3bIxg5WF.dpuf

Appears to me that RUPA got these selections right.

Slipper was my choice for the John Eales and obviously his peers were of the same view.
Unsung hero for the Reds and Wallabies for ALL of 2014 and I hope he's enjoying his break.....

Great fan recognition for Matt Hodgson as he was up against the numbers in Qld & NSW.
Obviously his support is strong outside of WA as well.

We'll Done Matt! I would not let ANYONE leave my office without casting a vote there were close to 100 when I gave up counting! LOL!
To beat the likes of Izzy is remarkable! We'll deserved! So excited!

Awesome news for Hodgo. What a champ.

Well done Matt

This just shows who has the best fan base and thanks to the TWF family for getting our man over the line .... Hodgo and big dog would have had the most votes cause the fans of the the Western Force are true fans not fickle hit and miss folks ... I voted with every email address I had all 4...

http://youtu.be/wAVuAddji38

Well done Hodgo and the TWFers :approve:

Onya Matt!

The award says it all.

The Peoples champion.

Well deserved

Onya Hodgo

Fantastic job Sea of Blue, the Avoca Mob plus all the others who voted for Hodgo!!

http://http://www.rupa.com.au/news/t...eople-s-choice

Matt Hodgson tops off stellar year as Volvo People’s Choice

By Lauren DeGioia
December 11, 2014

Western Force and Wallabies inspiration, Matt Hodgson was named as this year’s Volvo People’s Choice after receiving a huge majority of rugby supporters’ votes.

In the polling, 444 fans selected Hodgson, each explaining, in 25 words or less, why they felt he best demonstrates the spirit of rugby in Australia. The figure was a whopping 285 points ahead of second placed, Israel Folau, on 159, and Michael Hooper in third place on 145.

As someone who cherishes ever opportunity on and off the field, Hodgson became the first player to reach the 100 game milestone for the Western Force in 2014. The stalwart leader started in every match for the Force, which included three man-of-the-match performances and six tries. He finished atop the 2014 Super Rugby player rankings with the highest amount of tackles (234) in the tournament.

Hodgson has continued to show strength and character as the Force Captain in season that was capped off when he was named the winner of the Western Force Players’ Player for the third time. He also received his first call up to the Wallabies in four years, and handed the chance to lead the Men in Gold in their opening Spring Tour match, in what was a thrilling 40-36 win over the Barbarians at Twickenham.

The nine other nominees for the 2014 Volvo People’s Choice are listed below.

Michael Hooper
Michael Hooper has once again proven his worth, helping to lead both the Waratahs and the Men in Gold this season. He played an integral part in the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby Championship campaign, with his efforts recognised by his peers once again after winning Waratahs' Players' Player for the second year running.

Israel Folau
Israel Folau made a huge impact this year, sitting first on the overall 2014 Super Rugby player rankings for most tries and second in clean breaks and metres. At the conclusion of round 19, he became the first player ever to top both the NRL & Super 15 regular season try-scorers list. Israel was also named this year’s John Eales Medallist after playing in every Test for the Men in Gold.

Adam Ashley-Cooper
The man known as Mr Reliable had a stellar year of rugby at the domestic and international level. In 2014 not only did he earn his 100th Test cap, he also reached equal third on the all-time top Australian try-scorers list, and tied with David Campese as the highest Aussie try-scorer against the All Blacks.

Bernard Foley
In 2014 Bernard Foley was given the nickname, the “Iceman”, due to his game-saving kicking during more than one high pressure situation. His most memorable the kick that helped seal the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby Final victory. Bernard finished this year’s Super Rugby with the most amount of points overall and the Rugby Championship with the second highest.

James Slipper
James Slipper has redefined the role of the modern day Prop in 2014, winning three accolades at the Reds Rugby Gala Ball, including Players’ Player Pilecki Medal, People’s Choice and Spirit of the Reds. James was also named one of two Wallabies Vice Captains in June shortly after earning his 50th Test cap.

Matt Toomua
Matt Toomua played in every single match for the Brumbies during their 2014 Super Rugby campaign, was the third highest try-scorer in the tournament, crossing for seven tries, and won the title of Best Back at the Brumbies' end of season awards. Recognised as one of the toughest blokes running round Australian Rugby, Toomua continued to show his powerful ball carrying and defensive skills when called up again to the Wallabies this year.

Scott Fardy
Scott Fardy is not one to give up on his Australian rugby dream, proving, at 30 years of age, in his second year as a Test player his ongoing worth as a strong ball runner and leader in the Brumbies and Gold jersey. Ahead of the this year’s Spring Tour Scott had started in all but one Test for Australia with his perseverance on the field setting a fine example and highlighting his success at both the provincial & international level.

Scott Higginbotham
Scott Higginbotham has continued to flourish as Captain of a young Melbourne Rebels side, leading by example both on and off the field. Higginbotham is amongst the top-scoring forwards in Super Rugby history, adding a further four tries to his record this year, and winning the 2014 Super Rugby Try of the Year at the John Eales Medal.

Ben McCalman
Ben McCalman has shown some of his career best form in 2014 with consistent performances for the Western Force and in the Gold jersey. After claiming the No.8 jersey as his own, Ben was one of the Wallabies’ most consistent this season, which was recognised in a number of Man of the Match performances. The landmark moment for 'the Wolfman' came when he took out the 'Geoffrey Stooke' Award at the Western Force end of season event, in recognition of a superb season both on and off the field.