VIDEO: Thor does the double ... AGAIN
NEWS: Duane Vermeulen has added more accolades to his already stacked deck of awards.
Vermeulen, for a second time, has been named SA Rugby’s Player of the Year and the MyPlayers-driven Players’ Player of the Year.
The MyPlayers’ awards differ from those of SA Rugby and they are not competing events.
The professional players get to cast their votes to decide the winners of the Players’ Choice Awards.
After this year’s votes were counted, the Springbok stalwart, Vermeulen, came out tops – beating his fellow nominees to win the coveted 2020 Players’ Player of the Year award, as well as the Forward Player of the Year award, both of which were won by Pieter-Steph du Toit in 2019.
Vermeulen’s double – the SA Ruby and MyPlayers Player of the Year – has been achieved only on four occasions (2020 included).
He is the first person to do it twice.
Others who achieved the double include Jean de Villiers (2008), Vermeulen (2014), Pieter-Steph du Toit (2019) and Vermeulen (2020).
As the winner of two categories, Vermeulen pledged his total winnings of ZAR10,000 to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund.
“Assisting those in need is something close to my heart, and I couldn’t think of a better way to assist those in need than donating my total winnings to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund, which has been rugby’s caring hand for over 40 years,” Vermeulen said.
“My donation is a small token of appreciation and an opportunity to thank the Players’ Fund for the pivotal role they play, in caring for the South African’s who suffer life-changing injuries through rugby.
“Hopefully, my donation can make a change in one person’s life.”
* (All the winners below video …)
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
John Smit (2005), Lucas Floors (2006), Willem de Waal (2007), Jean de Villiers (2008), Morné Steyn (2009), Gio Aplon (2010), Bismarck du Plessis (2011), JP Pietersen (2012), Willie le Roux (2013), Duane Vermeulen (2014), Jaco Kriel (2015), Jean-Luc du Preez (2016), Siya Kolisi (2017), Malcolm Marx (2018), Pieter-Steph du Toit (2019), Duane Vermeulen (2020).
PLAYERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2020 – WINNERS AND NOMINEES
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
Nominees:
Jeandré Rudolph (Cheetahs)
Andisa Ntsila (Cheetahs)
Steven Kitshoff (Stormers/WP)
BEST OFF THE BENCH
Winner: Morné van den Berg (Lions)
Nominees:
Thembelani Bholi (Sharks)
Arno Botha (Bulls)
Sintu Manjezi (Bulls)
FORWARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)
Nominees:
Steven Kitshoff (Stormers/WP)
Jeandré Rudolph (Cheetahs)
Marco van Staden (Bulls)
BACKLINE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Wandisile Simelane (Lions)
Nominees:
Cornal Hendricks (Bulls)
Frans Steyn (Cheetahs)
Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
MOST IMPROVE PLAYER AWARD
Winner: Vincent Tshituka (Lions)
Nominees:
Stedman Gans (Bulls)
Tiaan Swanepoel (Lions)
Dylan Richardson (Sharks)
PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)
Nominees:
Frans Steyn (Cheetahs)
Cornal Hendricks (Bulls)
Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
