Five Contenders for John Eales Medal and Australia's Choice Award

[laura]

Five Contenders for John Eales Medal and Australia's Choice Award
September 19, 2008 - 10:56am
Story by: ARU


Australian Rugby Union and the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) have tonight revealed the top five contenders for the 2008 John Eales Medal and for an exciting new award involving online voting by Qantas Wallabies fans.

An announcement on the Fox Sports Inside Rugby program confirmed that Qantas Wallabies stars Rocky Elsom, Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlock, Wycliff Palu and George Smith are in the running for both prestige honours, with the winners to be named at the John Eales Medal night in Sydney on Thursday, October 23.

The John Eales Medal is presented to the Qantas Wallabies player who polls the most number of votes from teammates, cast on a 3-2-1 basis after each Test.

This year’s Medal takes in the Qantas Wallabies’ five matches at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France and the nine Tests played so far this season under new coach Robbie Deans as part of the 2008 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.

However, for the first time, Rugby fans will also have the chance to vote on the Qantas Wallabies player they believe has been the best and most consistent during the same 14-Test campaign.

A new award entitled Australia’s Choice – 2008 Wallaby of the Year will be determined by votes cast online, with full details available at rugby.com.au | , RUPA - Rugby Union Players Association and FOX SPORTS | Sports news Australia | Australian sports.

Supporters will be asked to vote for one of the five contenders for the John Eales Medal, and the player polling the most votes from the fans will receive the Australia’s Choice – 2008 Wallaby of the Year award.


Voting will be open until 5pm on Sunday, October 19.

Previous winners of the John Eales Medal are:
2007 - Nathan Sharpe
2006 - Chris Latham
2005 - Jeremy Paul
2004 - David Lyons
2003 - Phil Waugh
2002 - George Smith

rugby.com.au | Five Contenders for John Eales Medal and Australia's Choice Award

[KenyaQuin]

Rocky or Smithy for mine.

[JediKnight]

There are a lot of forwards in the list of previous winners......just goes to show who does all the hard work in a rugby team!

[inactive]

I would say smith- he always wins the awards but deserves it too!

[NTT]

what ?!?! no Tuqiri ?!?!

[GIGS20]

They need a player other players will vote for, not throw a dart at!

[BLR]

Why the hell is Palu in the running, what a bloody joke.

[slomo]

george smith, with james horwill to take out rookie of the year......

[laura]

I concur, though I would love to see Gits get it especially because he is now a West Aussie. (Go Force) Seriously though George Smith or Rocky Elsom will take it out I reckon.

[gustafsl]

Tough one to pick. Have to think back to World Cup and who had good games there. Surprised Mitchell isn't in the running. He would have got 3 in most of the World Cup games as he was easily the best player there.

[laura]

Sadly he didn't have this season to really back him up though. If he did I think he would be a shoe in, from his handful of performances this year he plays pretty consistently but he hasn't played lomg enough for it to count.

[robyn <3]

Sadly he didn't have this season to really back him up though. If he did I think he would be a shoe in, from his handful of performances this year he plays pretty consistently but he hasn't played lomg enough for it to count.

he should have had the season to back him up all of our three back (being lote, hynes and aac) were very inconsistant and i think he should have given drew and maybe turner more turns than they had (though turner screwed up the one he got..)

[GIGS20]

Turner doesn't deserve another shot for at least 12 months.....

[lara93]

go gits!!!