The finalists for the major awards of the 2026 Rugby Australia Awards have been confirmed, as Australian rugby comes together to celebrate a huge season of strong performances.
The ceremony will be held on Thursday night, with the winners announced on Rugby Australia's socials and the event to be live-blogged on Rugby.com.au.
Follow all the action from the 2026 Rugby Australia Awards at Rugby.com.au
The 2026 season is set to be one of the most hotly contested awards nights in years, with every national side seeing several key stars deliver world-class performances across the last year.
The finalists for the John Eales Medalist will be announced on the night; however, who will be the three names considered for the top honour in the men’s game is a wide-open question in 2026.
Two-time winner Rob Valetini is likely to be in the mix after continuing his strong form in gold since returning from injury, as is last year’s winner Len Ikitau, who has been acclaimed internationally for his form in the centres.
Options abound as well for a new player to take the medal, with Fraser McReight also a standout having been previously considered for the top honour.
The door is also open for established veterans like Allan Alaalatoa, having been one of Australia’s top performers for the last decade. Then, there is the current captain, Harry Wilson, who has frequently been cited as one of the Wallabies' hardest workers.
Even the likes of Jeremy Williams could also be considered; the Western Force captain’s strong form at lineout was a key success for the Wallabies in 2026, with the last lock to win the medal being Nathan Sharpe back in 2012.
Outside of the John Eales Medal, however, a variety of finalists have been announced for all other awards, with the Wallaroos’ Player of the Year set to see a new winner.
Loose forwards Piper Duck and Siokapesi Palu Sekona are set to contest for the award, with Faitala Moleka recognised for her versatility in the backline as the third finalist.
The Shawn Mackay Awards are set to be hotly contested, with 2025 finalist Henry Hutchison joined by veteran Maurice Longbottom and breakout star Aden Ekanayake.
Maddison Levi, meanwhile, will be looking for a third award after victories in 2023 and 2024, and will face stiff competition from Heidi Dennis and Isabella Nasser, already top contenders in a SVNS World Championship-winning side.
The Rugby Australia Awards will also recognise the top players in the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific and Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s seasons, respectively, as well as the Defender of the Year and the Junior Men’s and Junior Women’s Players of the Year.
Especially of note will be the Rookie of the Year Award. After previous seasons have seen the award contested between both male and female players, 2026 will see the award split, recognising the Santos Men’s Rookie of the Year and the Santos Women’s Rookie of the Year.
Lastly, the Try of the Year will see Joe Brial, Eva Karpani, Filipo Daugunu and Sikpaesi Palu Sekona all up for several significant scores, with Henry Hutchison and Kaitlin Shave up for tries in the Sevens.
To be announced on the night
Faitala Moleka
Piper Duck
Siokapesi Palu Sekona
Men's
Aden Ekanayake
Henry Hutchison
Maurice Longbottom
Women's
Heidi Dennis
Isabella Nasser
Maddison Levi
Jeremy Williams (Western Force)
Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds)
Max Jorgensen (NSW Waratahs)
Rob Valetini (ACT Brumbies)
Jemma Bemrose (Queensland Reds)
Michaela Leonard (Western Force)
Siokapesi Palu Sekona (ACT Brumbies)
Harry Wilson (Australia Sevens)
Sid Harvey (NSW Waratahs)
Treyvon Pritchard (Queensland Reds)
Amelia Whitaker (Wallaroos)
Lily Bone (Wallaroos)
Nicole Ledington (Wallaroos)
Edwin Langi (Australia U20 and NSW Waratahs)
Treyvon Pritchard (Australia U20 and Queesland Reds)
Wallace Charlie (Australia Sevens, Australia U20, signed Western Force)
Amahli Hala (Australia Sevens)
Amelia Whitaker (Wallaroos and NSW Waratahs)
Waiaria Ellis (Wallaroos and NSW Waratahs)
- Super Rugby Pacific: Joe Brial, Queensland Reds v Chiefs
- Super Rugby Women’s: Eva Karpani, Queensland Reds v Fijian Drua
- Sevens Men’s: Henry Hutchison v RSA, Valladolid Final
- Sevens Women’s: Kaitlin Shave v NZ, Valladolid Semi-Final
- Wallabies: Filipo Daugunu v NZ
- Wallaroos: Siokapesi Palu Sekona v Scotland
Wallabies: Fraser McReight v France
Wallaroos: Nicole Ledington v Fiji
Sevens Men’s: Jayden Blake v NZ, New York
Sevens Women’s: Maddison Levi v NZ, Valladolid Final
Angus Gardner
Ella Goldsmith
Nic Berry
Reuben Keane
