Kurt-Lee Arendse named Player of the Year at the Bulls

An evening graced by more than 600 guests that make up the Vodacom Bulls, Vodacom Bulls Juniors and Bulls Daisies family as well as other stakeholders to the Blue Bulls Company (BBCo) coming together to celebrate rugby excellence.

"Once a year, we take time to pause and take stock of how well our athletes have done and this year is particularly special because we celebrate our teams as a collective for carrying the badge with pride and excellence," says Chief Executive of the BBCo, Edgar Rathbone.

"Our ladies have gone on to achieve a remarkable feat in being crowned back-to-back champions as they define what professional women's rugby looks like in South Africa, whilst the senior men have made us all proud with Grand Final and Quarterfinal appearances in the European-based competitions. The junior system continues to be the best in the country, producing quality rugby players who have featured for the Junior Springboks and also outstanding graduates who feature prominently in our senior teams,"

"Congratulations to all the winners and their teammates because they all have done themselves and everyone under this franchise proud."

Springbok duo, Arendse and Cilliers walked away with three awards each on the night. The latter, who enjoyed a stellar season with the Daisies, set the record for the most points scored in the SA Rugby Women's Premier Division, walked away the backline Player of the Year and the amalgamated MVP and player of the year award brought to you by GP Consult. The former walked away with the Investec Champions Cup Players Player of the Year, the United Rugby Championship Player of the Year and the Senior MVP award.

Elsewhere, Vainah Ubisi walked away with the Daisies Forward Player of the Year with her teammate and sprint queen, Patience Mokone taking the team's Player's Player of the Year crown.

In the Champions Cup, David Kriel was voted as the best Backline Player of the Year. Kriel also won a second, the Team Man of the Year award, which he shared with Gerhard Steenekamp. Wilco Louw was crowned as the Forward of the Year whilst Embrose Papier walked away with Players Player of the Year in the category.

In the United Rugby Championship category, Johan Goosen took the Backline Player of the Year prize with Elrigh Louw etching his name of the Forward of the Year trophy. Cameron Hanekom was voted as the Players Player of the Year with Arendse the tournament's Player of the Year.

The under-21s saw Philip-Albert van Niekerk walking away with the Backline Player of the Year award whilst recent graduate, Juann Else took the Forward of the Year prize. Neels Volschenk was voted for, by his teammates, as the Player of the Year.

In the special awards category, Bandise Maku was celebrated for his outstanding work off the field as the Brightrock Employee of the Year winner. On the field, Cameron Hanekom bagged his second award of the evening, walking away with the Newcomer of the Year award whilst Merwe Olivier was celebrated as the Junior MVP of the Year, to round off a wonderful evening of celebration.

WINNERS

Under 21 (2023 season)

Back of the year: Philip-Albert van Niekerk
Forward of the year: Juann Else
Players player of the year: Neels Volschenk

Bulls Daisies

Back of the Year: Jackie Cilliers
Forward of the Year: Vainah Ubisi
Players Player of the Year: Patience Mokone

Champions Cup

Back of the Year: David Kriel
Forward of the Year: Wilco Louw
Players Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
Player of the Year: Embrose Papier

United Rugby Championship

Back of the Year: Johan Goosen
Forward of the Year: Elrigh Louw
Players player of the Year: Cameron Hannekom
Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee ArendseSpecial awards

Employee of the Year (Brightrock): Bandise Maku
Newcomer of the Year: Cameron Hanekom
Team man of the Year: David Kriel and Gerhard Steenekamp
Bulls Daisies MVP and Player of the Year (GP Consult): Jackie Cilliers
Junior MVP (Afgri): Merwe Olivier
Senior MVP (Vodacom): Kurt-Lee Arendse

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