. 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 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.
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