Pretoria swapped its winter chill for a warm glow on Wednesday evening, as the Vodacom Bulls traded studs for suits and gumguards for champagne glasses at their annual Player Awards. It was an evening where the tackles were replaced by toasts and the scoreboard was written in gold.
If this had been a rugby match, Cameron Hanekom would have been the man who scored the hat-trick, added a drop goal for good measure, and still had enough in the tank to steal the opposition’s lineout ball. The tireless No. 8 left the night draped in accolades: Fans’ Player of the Year, Investec Champions Cup Forward of the Year, Investec Champions Cup Player of the Year, and Vodacom United Rugby Championship Forward of the Year.
This was an emphatic clean sweep for one of Pretoria’s brightest young powerhouses.
For Hanekom, it was a nod to a season in which his relentless ball-carrying, barnstorming runs, and defensive grit had become the heartbeat of the Bulls pack.
Sharing top billing in this glittering awards final was the immovable object in the Bulls’ front row, Wilco Louw. The powerhouse Springbok tighthead prop claimed Vodacom Bulls United Rugby Championship Player of the Year and the coveted Senior MVP award, recognition of a season where his work at the coalface went far beyond the stat sheet.
The night was also a celebration of the Bulls’ women’s side, the Isuzu Bulls Daisies, where Sizophila Solontsi proved once again why she is one of the most formidable forces in South African rugby. On the eve of her Rugby World Cup departure, Solontsi was honoured as Players’ Player of the Year and MVP. Her leadership and ferocity have been the Daisies’ secret weapon – though, truth be told, she’s not exactly subtle about it on the field.
The Vodacom Bulls Carling Currie Cup campaign saw Jannes Kirsten recognised as Player of the Year, a fitting salute to a man who plays every collision as if it were personal. Elsewhere, the electric Canan Moodie, with his blistering pace and ability to conjure tries out of thin air – walked away with the Investec Champions Cup Back of the Year gong.
In a season where recognition came from all corners that included coaches, management, teammates, as well as the fans, the awards carried a weight that went beyond silverware. As the organisers noted.
In most cases, awards were determined by coaching staff and management, while players themselves voted for players’ player awards. Additionally, the fan awards were adjudicated by Vodacom.
The future was also not forgotten. The next generation’s brilliance was showcased as JT Kapank and Jean Erasmus claimed U19 Back and Forward of the Year respectively, with Abri van der Westhuysen crowned U19 Players’ Player. The U21s had Logan Opperman as Back of the Year, Corne Beets doubling up as Forward of the Year and Players’ Player, and later adding Junior MVP to his tally.
The Daisies’ own recognition roll saw Patience Mokone named Back of the Year and Faith Tshauke taking Forward of the Year, each award a testament to the women rewriting Pretoria’s rugby narrative.
Across the senior ranks, Chris Smit (Currie Cup Back of the Year), Joe van Zyl (Currie Cup Forward of the Year), David Kriel (URC Back of the Year), and Keagan Johannes (Newcomer of the Year) all had their moments under the spotlight. Johan Grobbelaar was celebrated as Team Man of the Year, while Collen Khoza was applauded as Employee of the Year, proof that it takes more than 23 players to win championships.
