The Vodacom Bulls 2022-23 awards gala belonged to Kurt-Lee Arendse, the big winner alongside fellow Springbok Embrose Papier and hooker Johan Grobbelaar.
The Blue Bulls Company hosted a glitzy blue-carpet Player Awards ceremony at Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria, on Tuesday evening where players, coaches, board members, staff, sponsors and other stakeholders gathered to celebrate last season.
Arendse walked away the biggest winner on the night, claiming a whopping five awards as the dynamic speedster was rewarded for an impressive season which is still continuing on the international stage – he was earlier named in the 33-man Bok squad selected to defend the World Cup in France.
The 27-year-old utility back was named the Players’ Player of the Year and the Fans’ Player of the Year winner via a majority count of the votes cast through the Vodacom Bulls App.
PLUS: Bulls complete double deal
He was also crowned as the overall Player of the Year, Champions Cup Backline Player of the Year and Champions Cup Player of the Year.
Johan Grobbelaar was named Forward Player of the Year for the Bulls European voyage, and also as The Herd’s most improved senior player.
Ruan Nortje, who led the Bulls for much of last season, was honoured as the union’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship Forward of the Year.
David Kriel, who finished the 2022-23 URC with the most clean breaks (23) in the entire competition, won the Bulls’ URC Backline Player of the Year Award.
Loosehead prop Gerhard Steenekamp was named the Bulls’ URC Player of the Year for his consistent season, which was capped by him earning a national call-up to become the 150th player from the Pretoria outfit to become a Bok.
In the Currie Cup, scrumhalf Papier claimed both the Backline Player of the Year and overall Player of the Year Awards after a stellar 2023 campaign. Jan-Hendrik Wessels won the Forward Player of the Year award.
MAIN AWARDS:
Fans’ Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
Players’ Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
Most Improved Senior Player of the Year: Johan Grobbelaar
URC Forward Player of the Year: Ruan Nortje
URC Backline Player of the Year: David Kriel
URC Player of the Year: Gerhard Steenekamp
Champions Cup Forward Player of the Year: Johan Grobbelaar
Champions Cup Backline Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
Champions Cup Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
Currie Cup Forward Player of the Year: Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Currie Cup Backline Player of the Year: Embrose Papier
Currie Cup Player of the Year: Embrose Papier
AGE GROUPS:
U19 2023 Forward Player of the Year: Lukas Meyer
U19 2023 Backline Player of the Year: Alfondso Isaacs
U19 2023 Player of the Player: Steven Nel
U20 2023 Forward Player of the Year: Juann Else
U20 2023 Backline Player of the Year: Katlego Letebele
U20 2023 Player of the Player: Neels Volschenk
U19 2022 Forward Player of the Year: Abulele Ndabambi
U19 2022 Backline Player of the Year: Neil Le Roux
U19 2022 Player of the Player: Corne Beets
U20 2022 Forward Player of the Year: Sebastian Lombard
U21 2022 Backline Player of the Year: Quewin Nortje
U21 2022 Player of the Player: Tiaan Lange
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter