Emirates Western Force captain David Pocock has narrowly missed out on claiming the 2012 FxPro Super Rugby Player of the Year Award in Sydney.
The Wallaby skipper went into the final round of matches ranked equal first with Brumbies flyhalf Christian Lealiifano on 17 points, however, he was absence from the final two matches of the season with a groin injury ensured he was unable to poll any points, allowing Reds s scrumhalf Will Genia to claim the award for a second successive season.
Retiring lock Nathan Sharpe also featured in the voting with eight points, while Matt Hodgson (five points), Dave Harvey (four), Salesi Ma’afu, Brett Sheehan, Nick Cummins, Pek Cowan, Alfie Mafi (all three) also polled during the season.
Genia’s accolade capped off a successful afternoon for the Reds, who collected four of the five awards on offer.
The Reds also secured the Australian Team of the Year award for topping the Australian Conference table, while former World Cup winning Wallaby and Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie was named Australian Coach of the Year for a record fifth time in his career.
The Reds also took out the FxPro Super Rugby Try of the Year Award for a tremendous team effort against the Rebels in round 16, which was finished off by Dom Shipperley.
The only other Award on offer for the Queensland Franchise was Rookie of the Year, which was awarded to Brumbies flyer Joseph Tomane refusing the Reds of a clean sweep of Awards in 2012.
After retiring at the end of the 2011 season Stuart Dickinson was not eligible to win a record sixth straight TNT Referee of the Year Award. Steve Walsh was awarded the top honour for Australian referees in 2012.
It is the first time Walsh has claimed the Award and has been appointed to oversee this weekend’s Semi-Final between the Stormers and the Sharks in Cape Town.
ARU Managing Director and CEO, John O’Neill AO, congratulated all the award winners on their success and another exciting and enjoyable FxPro Super Rugby season.
“The 2012 FxPro Super Rugby season has certainly kept us wondering about a number of things including final table positions and awards,” Mr O’Neill said.
“In the end it came down to the results and performances in the final round of the year.
“While we only had one side in the Finals this year there was certainly a great deal shown by a number of the Australian Franchises that they will provide big threats in 2013.
“While we no longer have any Australian sides in the hunt for the 2012 title I think there is certainly a lot of potential and hunger brewing for Australian based success next year.”
Player of the Year – Will Genia
Coach of the Year – Ewen McKenzie
Team of the Year – Queensland Reds
Rookie of the Year – Joseph Tomane
Try of the Year – Dom Shipperley (Reds)
Referee of the Year – Steve Walsh