The winners of the 2020 Annual BrightRock Players’ Choice Awards were announced last week and the influence the Bulls’ popular captain had on their campaign in 2020 was evident when his fellow players named him their Player of the Year.

The winners are decided by their peers – South Africa’s professional rugby players – in a voting process that is facilitated by MyPlayers, the South African professional rugby players’ organisation.

After this year’s votes were counted, Springbok stalwart and Bulls captain Duane Vermeulen came out tops, beating his fellow nominees to win the coveted 2020 Players’ Player of the Year award, as well as the Forward Player of the Year award, both of which were won by Pieter-Steph du Toit in 2019.

The title of Players’ Player of the Year is awarded to the player selected by their peers as the best rugby player of the year. Other nominees in this category were Frans Steyn (Cheetahs); Cornal Hendricks (Bulls) and Curwin Bosch (Sharks).

A week ago, Vermeulen was named SA Player of the Year during the SA Rugby Awards, and this is the second time (including 2014) that he receives South Africa’s two most coveted player awards in a single year. He also becomes the first player to be named SA Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year in the same season, twice.

“Duane had an amazing season, despite the barriers presented by the pandemic, and his two awards this year reflect this. On behalf of MyPlayers, we would like to congratulate all the winners who contributed to the game and entertained us with the great rugby that they have played this past season,” remarked Eugene Henning, Chief Executive Officer of MyPlayers.

As the winner of two categories, Vermeulen pledged his total winnings of R10 000 to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund.

“Assisting those in need is something close to my heart, and I couldn’t think of a better way to assist those in need than donating my total winnings to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund, which has been rugby’s caring hand for over 40 years. My donation is a small token of appreciation and an opportunity to thank the Players’ Fund for the pivotal role they play, in caring for the South African’s who suffer life-changing injuries through rugby. Hopefully, my donation can make a change in one person’s life,” Vermeulen said.

The other winners who received the recognition of their peers, are:

• Defender of the Year: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks). Other nominees were Jeandré Rudolph (Cheetahs); Andisa Ntsila (Cheetahs) and Steven Kitshoff (Stormers/WP).
• Backline Player of the Year:Wandisile Simelane (Lions). Other nominees were: Cornal Hendricks (Bulls); Frans Steyn (Cheetahs) and Curwin Bosch (Sharks).
• Forward Player of the Year: Duane Vermeulen (Bulls). Other nominees: Steven Kitshoff (Stormers); Jeandré Rudolph (Cheetahs) and Marco van Staden (Bulls).
• Best off the Bench:Morné van den Berg (Lions). Other nominees were: Thembelani Bholi (Sharks); Arno Botha (Bulls) and Sintu Manjezi (Bulls).
• The LoveChange Award (for the most improved player):Vincent Tshituka (Lions). Other nominees were: Stedman Gans (Bulls); Tiaan Swanepoel (Lions) and Dylan Richardson (Sharks).

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