Pocock simply the best
It is Australia's highest player-voted individual honour.
Pocock, who won the same award in 2010, was also chosen by the people of Australia as their favourite player in 2015, with his on and off-field performance and commitment acknowledged as he topped the online poll in the People's Choice Award.
Speaking about winning the RUPA Medal for Excellence from Africa, where is on his well-earned holiday, Pocock said it was a very special honour.
"I'm sorry I can't be there to accept this in person," Pocock said in a video shown at the RUPA awards ceremony, adding: "But it's always an honour to be recognised by your peers.
"They are the ones you play alongside and against, and at the end of the day their opinion really does matter, so it's a huge honour to win the RUPA Medal for Excellence; thank you very much."
The awards capped a remarkable 2015 for Pocock which saw the 26 year old calmly dispel any doubts about his long-term durability as he shrugged off two seasons ruined by serious knee injuries to star for the Brumbies on their run to the Super Rugby semifinals. He scored eight tries for the Brumbies, including two hat-tricks, while in defence he made more than 96% of the tackles he attempted, and as always, was a constant threat at the breakdown for any opposing player.
Pocock was then one of the genuine stars of the Wallabies' run to the Rugby World Cup semifinals, and he was named in the Team of the Tournament for the second successive time. He scored a double in his side's opening Pool A clash against Fiji and also crossed the line against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup Final. Away from Rugby, David is currently studying a Bachelor of Ecological Agricultural Systems at Charles Sturt University, and he is keenly interested in environmental and conservation issues.
Melbourne Rebels wing Sefanaia Naivalu crowned a memorable first year as a professional player as he was voted the Newcomer of the Year by his Australian Super Rugby peers. 23 year old 'Super Sefa', who created history in September 2014 as the first ever player to sign for the Rebels directly from the Victorian club system, continued to defy the odds when he cemented himself as a regular starter with the Rebels during his maiden Super Rugby campaign in 2015. He played thirteen matches before injury brought his season to a premature close, scoring four tries in the process with a highlight being the winning try in his Club's first ever victory against the Brumbies in Canberra.
Waratahs and Wallabies prop Paddy Ryan was selected as the winner of the 2015 Community Service Award. A long-time advocate for breaking down the stigmas associated with depression and mental health, Paddy was selected to represent RUPA and all of its members at the world's leading forum for social impact, Good Pitch Australia 2015. Paddy also gave many hours back to the community in various appearances such as coaching clinics, public appearances and charity work.
Queensland Reds prop Ben Daley was chosen as the Academic Achievement Award winner. The year 2015 saw Daley complete his Bachelor of Laws at Bond University, where he specialised in Corporate and Commercial Law. With his theory work completed, Ben is now in the process of completing his practical legal training.
Charlotte Caslick and Cam Clark were voted in as the Women's and Men's Rugby Sevens Players' Player Award winners respectively. In this year's World Sevens Series, Charlotte Caslick bagged herself a hugely impressive seventeen tries. A highlight of her season was the pivotal role she played in Australia's success in winning the Cup in London, as she scored tries in each of the knockout matches en route to the last gasp win against Canada in the decider, and her crucial try in last weekend's Cup Quarter Final victory against New Zealand in Dubai.
This is the second consecutive season which has seen Clark deservedly voted as the RUPA Men's Sevens Players' Player. This season Clark passed 500 career points, and at just 22 years of age you can expect to see plenty more added to that tally.
Finally, Vikings back row forward Ita Vaea was chosen by players from every team in the National Rugby Championship as the NRC Players' Player. Ita, who was also the runner up in the Brumbies' Players' Player voting this season, thoroughly excelled in his first NRC campaign. He scored five of his six NRC tries at Viking Park, as the Vikings made it all the way to the 2015 NRC Grand Final, to cap a remarkable comeback campaign after spending the past two years out of the game with a life-threatening injury.
The RUPA awards, one of the highlights of the Australian Rugby calendar, allows RUPA's members to acknowledge the significant achievements of their peers on and off the field. With a who's who of Australian Rugby in attendance among a room of over 300 people including players, coaches, sponsors, media and other stakeholders of the game, it is seen as the ideal way to celebrate and reflect upon the Rugby season as the calendar year comes to a close before returning for next year's Super Rugby competition in February.
RUPA award winners, 2015:
RUPA Medal for Excellence: David Pocock (Brumbies)
Finalists: Israel Folau, Liam Gill, Scott Higginbotham, Greg Holmes, Michael Hooper, Steve Mafi, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, David Pocock, Ita Vaea
Newcomer of the Year: Sefanaia Naivalu (Rebels)
Finalists: Rory Arnold, Ryan Louwrens, Campbell Magnay, Sefanaia Naivalu, Hugh Roach
Academic Achievement Award: Ben Daley (Reds)
Finalists: Ben Alexander, Ben Daley, Greg Jeloudev, Ian Prior, Junior Rasolea
Community Service Award: Paddy Ryan (Waratahs)
Finalists: Ben Daley, Tim Metcher, Paddy Ryan, Jordan Smiler, Joe Tomane
Men's Sevens Players' Player: Cam Clark
Finalists: Cam Clark, Tom Cusack, Con Foley, Ed Jenkins, James Stannard
Women's Sevens Players' Player: Charlotte Caslick
Finalists: Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Shannon Parry, Emma Tonegato, Sharni Williams
People's Choice Award: David Pocock (Brumbies)
Finalists: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Stephen Moore, David Pocock
NRC Players' Player: Ita Vaea (Vikings)
Finalists: Jarrad Butler, Nick Frisby, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, Junior Laloifi, Jono Lance, Jordy Reid, Ita Vaea
