Duane Vermeulen the best in South Africa, but not at the Bulls

The seriousness – or lack thereof – of awards was once again highlighted at the Bulls’ recent Player of the Year awards evening.

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In somewhat surprising and bizarre fashion, the Bulls decided not to award the recently crowned SA Rugby Player of the Year and SA Players’ Player of the Year award winner Duane Vermeulen with their own Player of the Year award.

Instead it was shared by two other players.

Departing loose forward Marco van Staden and midfielder Cornal Hendricks shared the Bulls award for Player of the Year in a season where the Pretoria franchise were unchallenged as the top team in the country.

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Van Staden will be leaving the Bulls for Leicester Tigers in England in June while Hendricks’ story is remarkable, coming back from a heart condition and shifting from wing to inside centre to form a big part of Jake White’s success with the team.

Vermeulen didn’t go away empty-handed, however, as he was voted the Fans’ Player of the year and the Bulls’ Currie Cup Player of the Year as well.

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BULLS AWARD WINNERS:

UNDER-21

Forward of the Year: Jordan van Dyk

Back of the Year: Stravino Jacobs

Player of the Year: Janco Uys

CURRIE CUP

Forward of the Year: Trevor Nyakane

Back of the Year: Cornal Hendricks

Player of the Year: Duane Vermeulen

SUPER RUGBY UNLOCKED

Forward of the Year: Ruan Nortje

Back of the Year: Ivan van Zyl

Player of the Year: Marco van Staden

MAIN AWARDS

Most Improved of the Year: Stravino Jacobs

New-comer of the Year: David Kriel

Team Man of the Year: Jan Uys

Fans’ Player of the Year (APP): Duane Vermeulen

Players of the Year: Marco van Staden and Cornal Hendricks