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Emirates Western Force star James O’Connor has claimed the Wallabies Rookie of the Year Award after a stunning first 12 months at international level.
Still only 19 years old, O’Connor has ten Test caps to his name, in which he has scored 27 points, since debuting against Italy in Padova on the 2008 Spring Tour.
He has made 14 appearances for the Emirates Western Force, scoring six tries and cementing a position in a backline full of Wallabies.
Departing Emirates Western Force flyhalf Matt Giteau claimed the big prize awarded on the night, polling 190 votes to win the John Eales Medal. Nathan Sharpe was second with 161 votes while George Smith was third.
RugbyWA General Manager, Rugby, Mitch Hardy, said the awards showed that the WA side was living up to its ethos of ‘Grow Rugby, Grow Wallabies’.
"We had ten members of the initial Wallabies squad in 2009, and seven members of our 2010 squad will be on the spring tour,” Hardy said.
"Matt and Nathan both had terrific seasons for us, and that form has flowed on to the international season.
Hardy also said it was a great result for O’Connor.
"James is a very talented individual, and he has achieved a lot already in a short space of time,” Hardy said.
"It's a great honour to win a rookie of the year award at Wallaby level, so we are obviously very happy for him.
"With O'Connor and Giteau joining WA locals Debby Hodgkinson and Steve Gann in claiming honours last night just highlights the strength and potential of rugby in WA.”
O'Connor and the Wallabies squad depart tomorrow for the Bledisloe Cup clash in Tokyo and the Grand Slam tour.