The Vodacom Bulls awards evening belonged to captain Marcell Coetzee and lively hooker Johan Grobbelaar, the big winners at the ceremony alongside promising junior player Tiaan Lange.
The Blue Bulls Company hosted a glamorous blue-carpet Player Awards ceremony at Heartfelt Arena, Tshwane, on Wednesday evening where players, coaches, board members, staff, sponsors and other stakeholders gathered to celebrate the 2021-22 rugby season.
The Bulls had plenty to reflect on with pride on the night, including reaching the inaugural Vodacom United Rugby Championship final, getting as far as the semi-finals of the Currie Cup and clinching the SA Rugby U20 Cup.
The 31-year-old Coetzee walked away with the Vodacom Bulls’ Senior Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Year award after earlier scooping the Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Year.
Grobbelaar, who had a superb season, claimed three awards on the night. The 24-year-old won the Vodacom URC Forward of the Year, the Bold Player of the Year, and the Players’ Player of the Year awards.
Following a great campaign where he played an integral part in the success of the Bulls U20 side, hooker Tiaan Lange was named the Vodacom Bulls Junior MVP of the Year.
“It was a tough, busy and thoroughly enjoyable 2022-23 season which saw the Vodacom Bulls involved in prestigious competitions – the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, Carling Currie Cup and the SA Rugby U20 Cup. It is only proper that we take a bit of time to reflect and celebrate the season that has just passed,” said BBCo CEO Edgar Rathbone.
“We would like to congratulate all the winners and nominees, and also every single player, coach, member of staff and stakeholder that contributed to a wonderful 2021-22 season. We look forward to reaching greater heights in the upcoming 2022-23 season.”
The list of winners on the night:
MAIN AWARDS
BRIGHTROCK LoveChange Blue Bulls Company Employee of the Year: Heilie Brits (Finance)
PUMA Most Improved Player of the Year: Canan Moodie
ISUZU ‘The Bold Player’ Award: Johan Grobbelaar
RICHELIEU Team Man of the Year: Jacques van Rooyen
VODACOM Fans’ Player of the Year: Marcell Coetzee
VODACOM Players’ Player of the Year: Johan Grobbelaar
AFGRI Vodacom Bulls Junior MVP of the Year: Tiaan Lange
VODACOM Bulls Senior MVP of the Year: Marcell Coetzee
VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Vodacom Bulls Vodacom URC Forward of the Year: Johan GrobbelaarNOMINEES: Marcell Coetzee, Ruan Nortje
Vodacom Bulls Vodacom URC Back of the Year: Madosh TambweNOMINEES: Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse
Vodacom Bulls Vodacom URC Player of the Year: Ruan NortjeNOMINEES: Elrigh Louw, Johan Grobbelaar
CARLING CURRIE CUP
Vodacom Bulls Carling Currie Cup Forward of the Year: Lizo GqobokaNOMINEES: Janko Swanepoel, WJ Steenkamp
Vodacom Bulls Carling Currie Cup Back of the Year: Marco Jansen van VurenNOMINEES: Canan Moodie, Stedman Gans
Vodacom Bulls Carling Currie Cup Player of the Year: Lizo GqobokaNOMINEES: Janko Swanepoel, Morne Steyn
U20
Vodacom Bulls U20 Forward of the Year: Merwe OlivierNOMINEES: Marco de Wit, Sebastian Lombard
Vodacom Bulls U20 Back of the Year: Sonwabo SokoyiNOMINEES: Carlton Banies, Franco Knoetze
Vodacom Bulls U20 Player of the Year: Cameron HanekomNOMINEES: Tiaan Lange, Quewin Nortje
Photo: Inpho Photography
