DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 12: Arno Botha of the Vodacom Bulls with Marco van Staden of the Vodacom Bulls and Duane Vermeulen (captain) of the Vodacom Bulls during the Carling Currie Cup match between Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls at Johnson Kings Park Stadium on December 12, 2020 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

Players Choice Awards: Bulls dominate nominees

Bulls captain Duane Vermeulen and stalwart centre Cornal Hendricks have been nominated for the top honour, the Players’ Player of the year alongside the Cheetahs Frans Steyn and Sharks pivot Curwin Bosch.

by James Richardson

11-02-2021 11:46

in Rugby

The double-championship winning Bulls are understandably front and centre on the nominations lists for the Players Choice Awards.

Former Springbok skipper and MyPlayers board member John Smit commended all players for their efforts in a topsy turvy season.

“Nothing about 2020 was ideal or perfect – every week presented new challenges to players’ fitness, health, performance and mental welfare,” said Smit.

“To be nominated in one of the six categories suggests so much more about these players than just an acknowledgement of their talent and abilities. It also recognises character and mental fortitude in the most uncertain and disruptive season that most professional rugby players have ever been exposed to.”

The Bulls have players nominated in every category, barring the defender of the year which sees Jeandré Rudolph (Toyota Cheetahs), Andisa Ntsila (Toyota Cheetahs), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers / Western Province) and Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) in line for honours.

Bulls centre and former Blitzboks star Stedman Gans made a statement with his performances in the 15-man code and should be a frontrunner for the most improved player award, where he is nominated alongside the Lions big-booted fullback Tiaan Swanepoel and loose forwards Vincent Tshituka (Lions) and Dylan Richardson (Sharks).

Locks Arno Botha and Sintu Manjezi have also been nominated as Best off the Bench with the former helping the Bulls beat the Sharks in the Currie Cup final.