Len Ikitau, of Samoan and Niuean decent, has won the John Eales Medal, awarded to the best Australian rugby player of the year. The 27 year old becomes the first Samoan to win the prestigious award.
Ikitau enjoyed a remarkable year in the gold jersey including his delivery of the magical match-winning flick pass to Max Jorgensen in Australia’s epic win over England at Twickenham in November 2024.
Ikitau, born in Brisbane, is a product of Brisbane Boys College where he played his high school footy.
He was rewarded an opportunity into the ACT Brumbies pathways program in 2016 and debuted for the franchise in the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Ikitau has been a pivotal part of the Brumbies side since his debut, and very quickly became a regular in the starting side with 76 appearances.
Two years into his super rugby career he was called into the Wallabies side in 2021. An injury in July 2023 meant the centre missed out of Australia’s 2023 Rugby World Cup squad.
As he had done for the Brumbies, Ikitau quickly made the Wallabies midfield his own. He has played 47 tests for Australia in the past 5 years.
He was contracted to the Brumbies until the end of 2025. On 24 April 2025, Ikitau signed a two-year contract extension with Rugby Australia and with the Brumbies until the end of 2027.
Ikitau’s contract allows for a short sabbatical in England to play for Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby competition for the 2025-26 season.
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