SARrugby.com

These four pretty average players appear to be the best the bulle have!!  Very little t oget too excited about Arno Botha wa sthe young super 15 player of the year.

Cape Town - Veteran wing Akona Ndungane was on Wednesday named the Vodacom Bulls’ Super Rugby Players Player of the Year, while another stalwart Willie Wepener walked away with the Currie Cup Players Player of the Year Award.

These two were among a host of awards given to players and staff at the Blue Bulls Company’s annual lunch, which incorporated the awards.

Ndungane was also named best back for the Currie Cup side, capping a fine season for the veteran.

Barend van Graan, CEO of the BBM, thanked the coaching staff and players as well as the BBC’s employees, many of whom received service certificates as well.

“We did not achieve our expected strike rate with regards to trophies and titles with only our Under-21s, Women Sevens and Craven Week sides that won their tournaments, but it was still very successful in many ways. Our Super Rugby side made the top six and playoffs of Super Rugby, the Currie Cup team played in the semi-finals and our Under-19’s made their final. A host of our players also represented the Springboks and a number of our junior players starred for the Junior Springboks in the winning of the IRB Junior World Championships,” Van Graan said.

“We lost a lot of our coaching staff to the Springboks as well, so in all, it was a good year for us in many ways. Our office staff excelled as well and I am happy that we could honour their contribution too.”

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said the rewards will motivate his troops for the new season.

“It is always nice to reward people and a lot of these awards did just that. We are blessed to have some truly professional players in our set-up and they work very hard. This creates a fantastic work ethic, one the Blue Bulls are very proud of. Congratulations to the winners, it was well deserved. With next year’s pre-season just starting, these awards also serves as a timely reminder that hard work will pay off in the end.”

The various Players Awards were:

Super Rugby 2012    
Players Player of the Year: Akona Ndungane
Most Promising Player of the Year: Arno Botha       
Forward of the Year: Juandré Kruger
Back of the Year: Zane Kirchner

Currie Cup 2012
Players Player of the Year: Willie Wepener  
Most Promising Player of the Year: Louis Fouché     
Forward of the Year: Dewald Potgieter        
Back of the Year: Akona Ndungane

Vodacom Cup 2012  
Players Player of the Year: Ruan Snyman     
Most Promising player of the Year: Jan Serfontein  
Forward of the Year: Cornell Hess    
Back of the Year: Ruan Snyman        
Management Award: Tim Dlulane

Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-21
Players Player of the Year: Juan Schoeman  
Most Promising Player of the Year: Marvin Orie     
Forward of the Year: Wiaan Liebenberg       
Back of the Year: Courtnall Skosan   
Management Award: Andrè Volsteedt

Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19         
Players player of the Year: Ruan Steenkamp
Most Promising Player of the Year: Andrew Beerwinkel      
Forward of the Year: Jacques du Plessis        
Back of the Year: Burger Odendaal  
Management Award:  Zama Dyidi
 

The Bulls was not really the top side in SA this year and I think they ultimately won only the Under 21 Trophy.   I am not surprised by their player selection for award purposes;

I am delighted by heir youngsters coming through - especially Jan Serfontein, Wiaan Liebenberg and Arno Botha.  The latter three are to my mind the most promising future players wth a good chance to represent the Springboks in future.