Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe won the Wallabies' top individual honour for the second time in his glittering career, taking out the 2012 John Eales Medal at a gala event in Sydney on Thursday night.

Sharpe topped off a memorable campaign in which he earned his 100th Test cap in the World Cup bronze medal final against Wales last October and captained Australia for the first time since 2005.

Australia's most-capped forward became just the second player in the history of the medal to win a second time, joining George Smith - the forward whose Test appearances record Sharpe overtook a few weeks ago.

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Sharpe, who was also honoured as the Wallabies' choice in 2007, won by a narrow 24 points over star openside flanker David Pocock (235).

Wallabies Rookie of the Year Michael Hooper polled 171 votes to come in third ahead of playmaker Berrick Barnes (160), while scrum half Will Genia (140) rounded out the top five.

"Being presented the medal by John himself means a lot to me," Sharpe told Grandstand shortly after receiving the award.

Nathan Sharpe Born: Wagga Wagga NSW Position: Lock Test caps: 112 Debut: v France at Melbourne, Jun 22, 2002 World Cups: 2003, 2007, 2011 Tries: 8 John Eales Medals: 2007, 2012

"He's a guy that I cut my teeth under when I first started playing, so it's tremendous to get it from him in my final year.

"I've learnt a lot from John over the years and will hopefully continue to do so.

"But probably more [importantly] to be recognised as a guy who puts in each week for his team-mates is something special.

"It's a team sport and that's the most important result. But if I'm a guy that people want to play with then that suits me well."

The 34-year-old also won the inaugural Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby Award and the Australia's Choice gong for the fans' favourite Wallaby.

He will captain the Wallabies on their Spring Tour in Europe later this month.

When asked whether he thought his season would end like this, he replied: "No I didn't.

"It's hard to see a year panning out the way it has, but it's been a challenging year at the same time and funnily enough I enjoy challenges.

"I'm just lucky there's been some good people around me throughout my life and also a bunch of guys that have come in and really dug deep when times have gotten tough.

"It's very easy to be involved with guys like that."

Sharpe played 16 of the 19 Test matches during the voting period and deferred his international retirement twice during the year.

The second time he answered Australian coach Robbie Deans' call to lead the Wallabies in his last Test on home soil in Australia's 18-18 draw with New Zealand two weeks ago, due to the injury-enforced absence of previous skippers James Horwill, Pocock and Genia.

"Everyone keeps giving me a lot of stick about [his comebacks] but there's got to come a time when it is the last time," he laughed.

"This'll be the last one for the last four games [on the Spring Tour] and I look forward to the next challenges that are out there for me.

"There's certainly things I'm looking forward to. Whilst I've got plenty to learn I'm looking forward to the challenge of hopefully becoming successful at something else."

It is the ninth time in the 11-year history of the Medal that a forward has taken out the prize.