Super Rugby Pacific awards: All Blacks star takes top prize after ‘tiebreaker’ as Aussie rookie lands inaugural gong
Quinn Tupaea (left) and Sid Harvey (right) scooped major awards at the Super Rugby Pacific awards night
All Blacks centre Quinn Tupaea has been named Super Rugby Player of the Year, beating out fellow Test midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai in a tiebreaker.
The Player of the Year award was voted on by a panel of independent media representatives from across the competing nations, with it coming down to a five-man shortlist.
Quinn Tupaea wins Super Rugby Player of the Year award following tiebreaker
Tupaea and Tavatavanawai both finished on exactly 43 votes in the first round of voting, but the Chiefs back was named the winner in the tiebreaker after receiving more ‘three votes’ from the independent media panel across the season.
His award was certainly well deserved, too, following an excellent season with the Waikato-based side. Across the season, Tupaea scored eight tries in 14 outings for the Chiefs, and played a crucial role in their recent semi-final win over the Crusaders, too.
Elsewhere, Blues man Anton Segner finished third in the shortlist with a total of 41 votes, while Wallabies duo Max Jorgensen and Ben Donaldson finished joint-fourth on 39 votes each.
Commenting, Super Rugby Pacific CEO, Jack Mesley, said: “Quinn Tupaea is a most deserving winner of the Player of the Year Award, having been one of the competition’s most consistent star performers and playing a leading role in the success the Chiefs have enjoyed in 2026.”
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Sid Harvey wins Rookie of the Year award
Elsewhere, NSW Waratahs youngster Sid Harvey was named the inaugural Rookie of the Year, following an outstanding debut season with the Sydney-based outfit. His senior bow came in their round four meeting with the Hurricanes, and he went on to add a further 10 appearances across the season, all of which came in the starting XV.
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He also crossed the whitewash on six occasions, including a brace against Moana Pasifika back in April.
“I would also like to congratulate Sid Harvey on becoming the inaugural Rookie of the Year,” added Mesley. “In his breakthrough season with the Waratahs, we saw the skill and confidence to suggest he has a very bright future ahead of him.”
Harvey was the clear winner in the voting for this award, securing 27 votes from the media panel. Highlanders man Lucas Casey came second in the voting, with 18 to his name.
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