Western Force back-rower Vaiolini Ekuasi has capped an outstanding Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season by being crowned the 2026 Nathan Sharpe medallist at Friday night’s ceremony at the WACA Ground.
The Club held the Nathan Sharpe Medal Night at the WACA Ground’s Wally Edwards Function Centre with 300 guests in attendance to honour the Force’s top individual performers from the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Back-rower Ekuasi claimed the Force’s top men’s individual accolade, which is named after the Club’s inaugural captain Nathan Sharpe and voted on a 3-2-1 basis by players after each game.
Enjoyed the ride!?! Register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
Ekuasi won the count on 254 votes, finishing ahead of Club captain Jeremy Williams (229) and homegrown openside flanker Carlo Tizzano (191). Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch (168) and fly-half Ben Donaldson (142) rounded out the top five.
The Auckland-born forward made a major impact across the 2026 season, registering 271 in-contact metres (sixth most in Super Rugby), 143 carries (seventh overall) and 43 dominant carries (10th overall).
Ekuasi, 24, also had 121 pick-and-go metres (fourth overall), scored three tries and was ranked 12th overall for tackles with 162.
Ekuasi polled consistently across the season, including two stand-out games early in the year against the ACT Brumbies and Moana Pasifika, before a best afield display against the Fijian Drua in Round 15 all but sealed the top gong.
Williams finished only 25 votes behind Ekuasi, having polled votes in every game bar one, following a terrific season where he led Super Rugby for lineout steals (16) and played the most minutes of any Force player, with 139 tackles and three tries.
Third-placer Tizzano topped the side’s tries count for 2026 with 10, breaking the Club record in the process, surpassing Cameron Shepherd’s mark of 30. The UWA flanker also had 167 tackles, 258 attacking ruck arrivals and 110 ball carries.
Tizzano was recognized for his exemplary 2026 season by being voted the Force Members’ MVP for the third straight season, underlining the WA product's popularity.
Tongan tighthead prop Misinale Epenisa, 24, capped a breakout debut Super Rugby season by winning the Matt Hodgson Rising Star.
Epenisa was originally signed to the Force Academy, but was quickly elevated to the Super Rugby side for a Round 1 debut, playing 12 games across the season, impressing at scrum-time and growing in confidence as the season wore on, with two tries.
Vice-captain Nick Champion de Crespigny won the Force Man Award for the second straight season. The award is handed out to the player that embodies the Force spirit on and off the field.
The Force also acknowledged the Club’s 2026 debutants and departing players, along with 10 separate player milestones, including Kurtley Beale becoming the most capped back in Super Rugby competition history.
Enjoyed the ride!?! Register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
2026 Award Winners
Nathan Sharpe Medal: Vaiolini Ekuasi
Members’ Super Rugby MVP: Carlo Tizzano
Matt Hodgson Rising Star: Misinale Epenisa
Force Man Award: Nick Champion de Crespigny
Nathan Sharpe medal top 10
1. Vaiolini Ekuasi - 254
2. Jeremy Williams – 229
3. Carlo Tizzano – 191
4. Dylan Pietsch – 168
5. Ben Donaldson – 142
6. George Bridge – 117
7. Franco Molina – 107
8. Mac Grealy – 74
9. Nick Champion de Crespigny – 74
10. Darby Lancaster - 71
Nathan Sharpe Medal – Honour Roll
026 – Vaiolini Ekuasi
2025 – Tom Robertson
2024 – Ben Donaldson
2023 – Sam Spink
2022 – Tim Anstee and Manasa Mataele
2021 – Kane Koteka
2020 – Fergus Lee-Warner
2019 – Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
2018 – Brynard Stander
2017 – Isi Naisarani
2016 – Dane Haylett-Petty
2015 – Ben McCalman
2014 – Matt Hodgson
2013 – Kyle Godwin
2012 – David Pocock
2011 – David Smith
2010 – Matt Hodgson
2009 – Matt Hodgson
2008 – Ryan Cross
2007 – Matt Giteau
2006 – Scott Staniforth
Enjoyed the ride!?! Register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
