Veteran Wallaby lock Nathan Sharpe has won Australian rugby's top individual honour following an exceptional year that saw him twice postpone retirement and assume the national captaincy. The 34-year-old received the John Eales Medal, the Wallabies Players' Player award, on Thursday evening. He is only the second person to win the medal twice behind openside flanker George Smith, the man he recently surpassed to become Australia's most capped forward. "It was very hard to lose the three previous captains in one hit," Sharpe said, referring to injuries that sidelined James Horwill, David Pocock and Will Genia this season. "I've just enjoyed it for what it is." Sharpe, who also won the medal in 2007, polled 259 votes from his peers over the course of the Wallabies' last 19 Test matches stretching back to the 2011 World Cup, 24 ahead of nearest rival Pocock. He added to ABC radio that being presented with the medal by Eales was the ultimate honour. "He's a guy that I cut my teeth under when I first started playing, so it's tremendous to get it from him in my final year," he said of the former Australian captain. "I've learnt a lot from John over the years and will hopefully continue to do so. "But probably more (importantly) to be recognised as a guy who puts in each week for his team-mates is something special." Michael Hooper was voted Rookie of the Year. Sharpe will lead the Wallabies on their European Tour starting this month and then hang up his boots for good.
GMT 22:27 2018 Thursday ,13 December
Russian swimmer Prigoda takes gold in China with new WR in men’s 200m breaststrokeGMT 11:54 2018 Tuesday ,11 December
Ajax and Bayern in tasty Champions League duel for first placeGMT 17:44 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
Russian UFC Champ Nurmagomedov’s win was "fair and square"GMT 21:29 2018 Friday ,19 October
Moscow to host 2020 European Weightlifting ChampionshipsGMT 16:48 2018 Monday ,15 October
Russian fighter Nurmagomedov may be suspended for six monthsGMT 18:14 2018 Sunday ,07 October
Russia’s Nurmagomedov crushes McGregor, defends UFC titleGMT 17:44 2018 Thursday ,04 October
Underdogs CSKA beat Real Madrid in Moscow while a man downGMT 16:40 2018 Sunday ,02 September
Unified Korean team delivers historic medals, hopesMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor