Valetini joins the greats with second John Eales Medal

Rob Valetini says he feels blessed after joining Australian rugby royalty as a dual John Eales Medallist.

Valetini was crowned the Wallabies' player of the year at a glittering function at Royal Randwick race course on Wednesday night, the dynamic back-rower joining modern-day greats Israel Folau (2014-15) and Michael Hooper (2020-21) as only the third man to go back-to-back.

The 26-year-old is also the sixth player to win the prestigious gong on multiple occasions, with George Smith (2002, 2008), Nathan Sharpe (2007, 2012), David Pocock (2010, 2018), Folau (2014, 2015, 2017), Hooper (2013, 2016, 2020, 2021) and Marika Koroibete (2019, 2022) the others to achieve the feat.

"Blessed and grateful to have won the award," Valetini told reporters.

"I wouldn't be able to do this without my teammates doing their jobs and the coaching staff for backing me to play my game.

"I'm not the type of guy to chase medals. I just love rugby and I think I put it down to my training and being consistent through there and people who have helped me and make a lot of a sacrifices to make me who I am."

Voted by teammates on a 3-2-1 basis, Valetini edged out Queensland Reds flanker Fraser McReight after enjoying another stand-out year for the Wallabies in 2024.

He featured in all nine Tests and is sure to also play a pivotal role on next month's spring tour of the UK and Ireland when the Wallabies have a shot at completing the fabled grand slam with Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and the top-ranked Irish.

The ACT Brumbies enforcer wasn't the only back-to-back award winner, with McReight defending his Super Rugby Pacific player of the year title, and Maddison Levi again named women's sevens player of the year.

Prolific NSW Waratahs winger Maya Stewart was crowned the Wallaroos' player of the year after bagging nine tries in eight Tests and inspiring the team's historic triumph at the WXV 2 tournament in South Africa.

Nathan Lawson picked up the men's sevens player of the year award, while Brumbies captain Siokapesi Palu was named Super Rugby women's player of the year.Exciting 21-year-old Reds winger Tim Ryan capped off his stellar breakthrough season by taking home the rookie of the year award, along with try of the year for an electrifying solo effort against the Blues at Suncorp Stadium.Australia under-20s captain Toby Macpherson was named junior men's player of the year, and 18-year-old Caitlyn Halse picked up the junior women's gong after securing the starting fullback role for the Wallaroos.The referee of the year award went to Nic Berry, who, along with his significant Test commitments, was appointed to officiate the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific final.The awards night also saw Toutai Kefu and Matthew Burke inducted into the Wallabies Hall of Fame, and Selena Tranter (nee Worsley), Cheryl McAfee (nee Soon) and Emilee Barton (nee Cherry) inducted into the Australian Women's Rugby Hall of Fame.