Arendse shines at Bulls awards

AWARDS: All the winners at the Bulls Awards Ceremony of 2024 has been revealed.

The 2023/4 URC finalists held their awards evening on Wednesday evening, three weeks out before the new season starts.

“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 the professional women’s game 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.”

The Bulls kicked the event off with Juann Else scooping the award of U21 forward of the year.

Springbok tighthead Wilco Louw bagged the Champions Cup forward of the year while David Kriel walked away with the Champions Cup back of the year.

Flyhalf Johan Goosen were awarded the URC back of the year following a great season – guiding the Bulls to a home Final.

The @Vodacom BULLS #URC Back of the Year is … 🥁

J O H A N G O O S E N 🏆@Vodacom #BullsAwards2024 #VodacomTurns30 pic.twitter.com/IhcUmjtcvd

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) August 28, 2024

Springbok Elrigh Louw recieved the URC forward of the year and newbie Cameron Hanekom was awarded the Bulls’ URC players’ player of the year award after an outstanding debut season.

We searched high and LOUW for the @Vodacom BULLS #URC Forward of the Year! 👀

Congratulations ELRIGH LOUW 💪@Vodacom #BullsAwards2024 #VodacomTurns30 pic.twitter.com/PJh3ReIqtd

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— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) August 28, 2024

Cameron the Great 😤

Congrats to our flying flanker for being voted the @Vodacom BULLS #URC Players’ Player of the Year! 👏 @Vodacom #BullsAwards2024 #VodacomTurns30 pic.twitter.com/GS5Los8pIB

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) August 28, 2024

The big winner on the night was Bulls and Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse who scooped the Bulls MVP (Most valuable player) and Bulls URC player of the year.

Arendse also bagged the Champions Cup player’s player of the year award to put the cherry on top.

And FINALLY, the @Vodacom Bulls MVP AND Vodacom BULLS #URC Player of the Year goes to… 👑

Vodacom #BullsAwards2024 #VodacomTurns30 pic.twitter.com/qzC8gU4F3d

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) August 28, 2024

FULL AWARDS 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

** celebrated in 2024 due to the competition season schedule

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 Arendse

Special awards

• Employee of the Year: 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: Jackie Cilliers

• Junior MVP: Merwe Olivier

• Senior MVP: Kurt-Lee Arendse