Israel Folau has celebrated his decision to stay in rugby by winning two categories at the NSW Waratahs awards night and finishing second to Michael Hooper in the most prestigious section.
Wallaby back Folau – who around 12 hours earlier announced he had re-signed with the Waratahs and Australian Rugby Union for two more years – won Best Back and Members’ Choice Player of the Year.
The awards followed his recent gong for Super Rugby Rookie of the Year, but he finished a distant second to flying openside flanker Hooper in the Matthew Burke Cup for Waratahs Players’ Player of the Year.
Wallabies forward Hooper, who was recently named Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year, polled 298 votes to finish almost 100 points clear of fellow first-year Waratah Folau (200).
Centre Adam Ashley-Cooper (171) was third, followed by five-eighth Bernard Foley (167) and prop Benn Robinson (150).
Robinson, who was recently dumped from the Wallabies squad won the Best Forward award.
Former Brumby Hooper equalled Folau’s haul of two awards by winning the Waratah Medal for on and off-excellence.
Towering highly rated lock Will Skelton, one of 17 players to debut for the Waratahs this year, won the Chris Whitaker Aspiring Waratah Award.
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