Ag College captain Lochlan Ramm and Charles Sturt University (CSU) rising star Tess Staines have been named Southern Inland Rugby Union's (SIRU) best for this season.
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Ramm has been awarded this year's Bill Castle Medal for best and fairest in the Southern Inland men's first grade competition.
Ramm polled 10 votes in a low-scoring count to win by one from Albury-Wodonga's Aiden Woodford-Smith.
Woodford-Smith polled strongly early but struggled late in the season as the Steamers' battled disruptions due to the cross-border COVID-19 situation.
Ramm, an outside centre, missed the early part of the season for Aggies due to injury but polled steadily throughout the season to claim the medal in a thrilling finish.
Albury-Wodonga's Ryan O'Sullivan and Waratahs playmaker Gerard McTaggart finished in a tie for third on eight votes.
Ramm, 21, is back home on the family farm in Braidwood and under stay-at-home orders but was thrilled to learn of his win.
"It's an honour. An absolute privilege," Ramm said.
"I remember in first and second year and looking up to those players and thinking what a special award.
"I was completely blindsided by it really. I didn't expect it at all. It was a nice message to get."
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Staines, 19, was awarded the Alicia Lucas Medal on Sunday at CSU's end-of-season festivities.
The talented sportswoman capped off just her second full season of rugby with a four-vote win for the women's 10s best and fairest.
Staines, despite being in and out of the Reddies team due to representative commitments, polled 15 votes.
Staines' Brumbies' Super W teammate Apryll Green, who plays at Wagga City, and Waratahs' Emma Hickey finished in a tie for second on 11.
"It's not very often that I'm speechless but I had no words," Staines said.
"I missed five or six games because of Brumbies, either Brumbies or sevens, so that's why it was the last thing in the world that I expected.
"I love rugby. It's different. The Reddies have a fair bit to do with why I'm still there. They're an incredible club. That's why I choose to travel to play for them."
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