Bulls reveal their best for 2022
NEWS: The Blue Bulls Company hosted a glamorous awards ceremony on Wednesday.
The players, coaches, board members, staff, sponsors and other stakeholders gathered to celebrate the 2021/22 season.
The Bulls had plenty to reflect on with pride, including reaching the inaugural United Rugby Championship Final, getting as far as the semifinals of the Currie Cup and clinching the SA Rugby Under-20 title.
The awards ceremony belonged to Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee and lively hooker Johan Grobbelaar, who were the big winners.
Promising junior player Tiaan Lange also scored big.
The 31-year-old Coetzee walked away with the Bulls' Most Valuable Player in the senior ranks, after earlier scooping the Fans' Player of the Year.
Grobbelaar, who had a superb season, claimed three awards.
The 24-year-old won the 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 Bulls Junior MVP.
"It was a tough, busy and thoroughly enjoyable 2022/23 season which saw the Bulls involved in prestigious competitions – the United Rugby Championship, Currie Cup and the U20 tournament," said BBCo CEO Edgar Rathbone.
"It is only proper that we take a bit of time to reflect and celebrate the season that has just passed.
"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
UNDER-20:
Bulls U20 Forward of the Year: Merwe Olivier
NOMINEES: Marco de Wit, Sebastian Lombard
Bulls U20 Back of the Year: Sonwabo Sokoyi
NOMINEES: Carlton Banies, Franco Knoetze
Bulls U20 Player of the Year: Cameron Hanekom
NOMINEES: Tiaan Lange, Quewin Nortje
CURRIE CUP:
Bulls Currie Cup Forward of the Year: Lizo Gqoboka
NOMINEES: Janko Swanepoel, WJ Steenkamp
Bulls Currie Cup Back of the Year: Marco Jansen van Vuren
NOMINEES: Canan Moodie, Stedman Gans
Bulls Currie Cup Player of the Year: Lizo Gqoboka
NOMINEES: Janko Swanepoel, Morné Steyn
UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP:
Bulls URC Forward of the Year: Johan Grobbelaar
NOMINEES: Marcell Coetzee, Ruan Nortje
Bulls URC Back of the Year: Madosh Tambwe
NOMINEES: Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse
Bulls URC Player of the Year: Ruan Nortje
NOMINEES: Elrigh Louw, Johan Grobbelaar
MAIN AWARDS:
Blue Bulls Company Employee of the Year: Heilie Brits (Finance)
Most Improved Player of the Year: Canan Moodie
'The Bold Player' Award: Johan Grobbelaar
Team Man of the Year: Jacques van Rooyen
Fans' Player of the Year: Marcell Coetzee
Players' Player of the Year: Johan Grobbelaar
Bulls Junior MVP of the Year: Tiaan Lange
Bulls Senior MVP of the Year: Marcell Coetzee