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Qantas Wallabies flanker David Pocock has tonight won the 2010 John Eales Medal, claiming Australian Rugby’s most prestigious award in a landslide victory.
Pocock also secured a memorable double by also topping the public poll to be crowned Australia’s Choice – 2010 Qantas Wallaby of the Year.
The 25-Test back-rower joins other openside flankers George Smith (2002, 2008) and Phil Waugh (2003) as a John Eales Medallist.
Pocock, 22, had been the front-runner for Australian Rugby’s top honour before the voting went under wraps before the Bundaberg Red Tri Nations series.
In an award voted on a 3-2-1 basis by every Qantas Wallaby over 15 Tests stretching from the 2009 Spring Tour of Europe until the end of the Bundaberg Red Tri Nations, Pocock was leading the way on 149 votes, from last year's winner Matt Giteau (146) and flyhalf Quade Cooper (130) when the count went secret after the June Tests against Fiji, England and Ireland in the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.
The top five in the voting for this year were:
- DAVID POCOCK (269 votes)
- MATT GITEAU (193 votes)
- QUADE COOPER (146 votes)
- ROCKY ELSOM (138 votes)
- KURTLEY BEALE (138 votes)
The top ten contenders were announced last month and were also in the running for the Australia’s Choice – 2010 Qantas Wallaby of the Year award, where the general public vote online for the player they believe to be the most outstanding during the year.
Western Force breakaway Pocock topped the public poll to cap a breakthrough season which saw him take over the reins from retired Qantas Wallabies stalwart Smith.
Pocock is one of five players to have featured in all 10 matches played by the Qantas Wallabies so far this year, and one of only three to start every game – alongside skipper Rocky Elsom and tighthead prop Salesi Ma’afu.
Pocock’s performance on the 2009 Grand Slam tour included a man-of-the-match effort in the drawn Test against Ireland at Croke Park, as well as a maiden Test try during the 33-12 win over Wales at Cardiff before being forced to retire at halftime due to a damaged thumb.
Other award winners on the night included:
- Qantas Wallabies young gun KURTLEY BEALE, who was also a dual winner, being crowned Rookie of the Year during a debut season in which he helped end
Australia’s drought on the South African high veldt in Bloemfontein.
He also claimed Try of the Year for his contribution to James O’Connor try against the Springboks in Pretoria.
- The late RON MEAGHER who was the recipient of the Joe French Award for services to the game
- Australian Women’s star SHARNI WILLIAMS who won the Women’s Player of the Year award after a brilliant contribution at this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England where the Wallaroos recorded their best-ever finish of third
- Australian Sevens standout JAMES STANNARD who was the recipient of the Shawn Mackay Award after leading Australia to their first victory on the IRB Sevens World Series since 2002 in London this year before playing a huge role in his side’s silver medal performance at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi
- ROBBIE COLEMAN who was named Under 20 Player of the Year
- STUART DICKINSON who was named 2010’s Roger Vanderfield award winner as Referee of the Year
- GRANT WASON who was named Volunteer of the Year
The full list of award winners on the night were:
- John Eales Medal: DAVID POCOCK
- Australia’s Choice – Wallaby of the Year: DAVID POCOCK
- Joe French Award: RON MEAGHER
- Rookie of the Year: KURTLEY BEALE
- Try of the Year: KURTLEY BEALE
- Women’s Player of the Year: SHARNI WILLIAMS
- Sevens Player of the Year – Shawn Mackay Award: JAMES STANNARD
- Volunteer of the Year: GRANT WASON
- Under 20s Player of the Year: ROBBIE COLEMAN
- Referee of the Year - Roger Vanderfield Award: STUART DICKINSON
- The 2010 Hall of Fame inductees – ANDREW SLACK, the late TREVOR ALLAN and the late AC “JOHNNIE” WALLACE – were also acknowledged.
Previous winners of the John Eales Medal are:
2002 – George Smith
2003 – Phil Waugh
2004 – David Lyons
2005 – Jeremy Paul
2006 – Chris Latham
2007 – Nathan Sharpe
2008 – George Smith
2009 – Matt Giteau
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