Tharina Terblanche bedryf ‘n uitgebreide, saai-, bees- en hoenderboerdery naby Sasolburg in die Vrystaat. Vat die pad saam met Landbouweekliks, vanmiddag om 17:30 op VIA TV.
*Met heruitsendings Donderdae en Vrydae om 18:30.
CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 14: during the CSA One Day Cup, Division 1 match between Momentum Multiply Titans and Hollywoodbets Dolphins at SuperSport Park on December 14, 2022 in Centurion, South Africa. (Photo by Johan Rynners/Gallo Images). All photos supplied by © Vodacom Bulls.
Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White has confirmed his player roster and management group for the 2023-24 rugby season. White will have 57 players ready to do service across three competitions, namely the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, Heineken Champions Cup and the Currie Cup. They will be supported by a management cohort of 17 coaches, sports scientists and other support personnel.
Commenting on his roster for the season ahead, White said: “There is a special feeling in the air at Loftus at the moment, perhaps because we are all enjoying our pre-season work and collectively looking forward to what promises to be an exciting season of rugby ahead,”
“Our new recruits have already added fresh energy to our base and they have been warmly welcomed by the rest of the group, which is wonderful as we look to build a wonderful brotherhood amongst all the players and management alike,”
“We know the season will be long and to keep consistency all the way through will be vital for our campaign and this is why we have expanded our squad, to make sure we are not found wanting in certain periods and also be able to make like-for-like replacements when need be. Our recruitment has been intentional in making sure we find additional resources that will be able to help us get as close as possible to the goals and targets that we have in place. Some of the guys joining us also bring international experience, which will bode well for the season ahead.”
White added: “Fortunately, the players also have an experienced coaching unit to tap into and try to learn as much as they can, so that they are in a better place and have that competitive advantage compared to their opponents in the new season.”
On the establishment of the skills hub, which will be run by Kennedy Tsimba and Phiwe Nomlomo, the Vodacom Bulls mentor said that it was another step forward for the franchise, looking to exploit any gains possible that will make a difference in match situations.
“Phiwe and Kennedy are championing a department that should help us establish a competitive advantage as we look to have a roster of players – from juniors through to the seniors – who are leaving nothing to chance on the field, executing their roles at optimal levels throughout because these leagues need us to be absolutely crazy about accuracy,”
“The two will play a pivotal role in helping us keep our entire roster honest and also ensuring that they are always putting their best foot forward with measurable results on the table. Both Phiwe and Kennedy bring experience that cannot be limited to just the skills hub and therefore they will both be involved with hands on coaching with some of the teams,”
“This is an exciting time for me as a coach, watching the guys bond, work so hard behind the scenes and really show their unitedness as we upskill ourselves. I truly think we are on the right path and the strides we are hitting, will put us in a good place come the start of the season.”
The squad – detailed below – has been assembling at Loftus since the 19th of July and continues with its pre-season schedule with a few warm-up matches on the pipeline, details to be confirmed in due course.
FORWARDS (36):
Akker van der Merwe, Cameron Hanekom, Cyle Brink, Dylan Smith, Deon Slabbert **, Elrigh Louw, Francois Klopper, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jacques Du Plessis, Jacques van Rooyen, Jannes Kirsten, Janko Swanepoel, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, JF van Heerden, Joe van Zyl, Johann Grobbelaar, Khutha Mchunu, Marcell Coetzee, Marco van Staden, Merwe Olivier, Mihlali Mosi, Mornay Smith, Mpilo Gumede, Muller Uys, Nizaam Carr, Phumzile Maqondwana, Reinhardt Ludwig, Robert Hunt, Ruan Nortje, Ruan Vermaak, Sebastian Lombard, Simphiwe Matanzima, Tiaan Lange, Tielman Nieuwoudt, Wilco Louw, WJ Steenakamp
BACKS (25): Bernard Van der Linde, Canan Moodie, Chris Barend Smit, Chris Smith, Cornal Hendricks, David Kriel, Devon Williams **, Embrose Papier, Harold Vorster, Henry Immelman, Jaco van der Walt, Johan Goosen, Kabelo Mokwena, Keagan Johannes, Kurt-lee Arendse, Lionel Mapoe, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Sibongile Novuka, Sebastian de Klerk, Sergeal Petersen, Stedman Gans, Stravino Jacobs, Wandisile Simelane, Willie Le Roux, Zak Burger
** – player is on loan
MANAGEMENT GROUP:
Jake White
John-William Meyer
Andries Bekker, Chris Rossouw, Gary Gold, Jean Tiedt, Kennedy Tsimba, Phiwe Nomlomo, Werner Kruger
Dr. Herman Rossouw – Head of Medical, Dr. Henning Gericke – Sports Psychologist, Lance Lammetjies – Physiotherapist, Darryn Berry – Physiotherapist
Andre Volsteedt – Head of Strength & Conditioning, Stephen Plummer – Rehab Specialist, Yusuf Vahed – Sports Scientist
Elias Bennett – Team Manager, Simon Dyidi – Assistant Team Manager
The Blue Bulls Company (BBCo.) held its annual combined awards evening, celebrating achievements by the Vodacom Bulls, Vodacom Bulls junior sides as well as the Bulls Daisies who remain undefeated in their debut season of professional rugby.
Springboks Kurt-Lee Arendse, Gerhard Steenekamp, Embrose Papier and Rights Mkhari, all walked away winners on a glitz and glamorous evening, with a touch of funky flair which was left open to the interpretation of the attendees. The event was held at the Atterbury Theatre in Tshwane, on Tuesday evening.
Arendse walked away the biggest winner on the night, claiming a whopping five awards as the creative, dynamic and unrelenting speedster was rewarded for an impressive season which is still continuing on the international stage. The 27-year-old utility back was named both the Vodacom Players Player of the Year and the Vodacom Fans Player of the Year winner via a majority count of the votes cast through the Vodacom Bulls App. He was also crowned as the overall Vodacom Player of the Year for the 2022/23 season.
Arendse also claimed Heineken Champions Cup Backline Player of the Year and Heineken Champions Cup Player of the Year awards, pipping Wandisile Simelane and Embrose Papier for the Backline Player award with Johan Grobbelaar and Elrigh Louw finishing second and third respectively in the Player of the Year category of the 2022/23 campaign in Europe.
The Forward Player of the Year award for the Vodacom Bulls European voyage went to Johan Grobbelaar who accumulated 156 minutes of play from three matches played, making 28 tackles and scoring a try (against Exeter Chiefs) as the herd made quite the impressive debut in the competition. Grobbelaar also walked away with the PUMA award for the most improved player.
Ruan Nortje, who led the club for much of the 2022/23 season, was honoured as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship ISUZU Forward Player of the Year after the 25-year-old had an impressive campaign. In the 19 matches that Nortje featured in during the competition, he made 147 carries on attack whilst finishing with a defensive tackle success rate of 87% in the 168 tackles he made, which ranks him eighth overall in the competition.
David Kriel, who finished last season of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with the most clean breaks (23) in the entire competition whilst his 846 metres gained ranks him third overall, won the Vodacom Bulls Vodacom United Rugby Championship Backline Player of the Year Award. Kriel was up against Springbok stars, Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse for the award.
Newly capped Springbok, Gerhard Steenekamp was named the Vodacom Bulls Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Year for his consistent season, which was capped by him earning a national call-up to become the 150th Vodacom Bulls player to become a Bok. Steenekamp’s season in the competition has seen him rake up a 91% tackle success rate from the 96 tackles made whilst he also ranks up high amongst the forwards pack on attack, making 96 successful carries. There is no doubt his clean break against Zebre Parma will remain a favourite highlight of both his and the Loftus faithful.
In the Currie Cup, scrum-half, Embrose Papier walked away the big winner, claiming both the Vodacom Backline Player of the Year and overall Vodacom Player of the Year Awards after a stellar 2023 campaign in the oldest rugby competition in the world and South Africa’s Premier Rugby Competition. Jan-Hendrik Wessels won the Vodacom Forward Player of the Year award.
For the ladies’ competition, the 2023 ISUZU Bulls Daisies Player of the Year award went to – Limpopo Express – Rights Mkhari, who was nominated for the award alongside 2023 Bulls Daisies Forward Player of the Year winner, Sinelitha Noxeke and Libbie Janse van Rensburg, who won the 2023 Bulls Daisies Backline Player of the Year award. The lanky, bulldozing and try-scoring flanker has been in an unstoppable mood since the start of the 2023 Women’s Premier Division campaign, dotting down nine tries and proving instrumental to the Daisies campaign thus far. Byrhandre Dolf walked away with the Bulls Daisies SSG Players Player of the Year award.
Elsewhere, the Vodacom Bulls Junior Awards saw Mawande Mdande walk away with the 2023 AFGRI Most Improved Junior Player, alongside 2023 Most Valuable Players Steven Nel (under-19), Neels Volschenk (under-20) whilst Corne Beets (under-19) and Tiaan Lange (under-21) walked away with the same award for the 2022 campaign.
Junior Springbok vice-captain, Katlego Letebele won the under-20 backline player of the year award whilst Alfondso Isaacs took the same honours at under-19s. Neil Le Roux (under-19) and Quewin Nortje (under-21) took the same award for the 2022 season. Nortje enjoyed an impressive season in blue, which preluded his call-up to the national fold where he made his debut in Springbok colours during the 2023 World Rugby under-20 Championships. At the front, the forward’s Player of the Year award went to Lukas Meyer (under-19) and Juann Else (under-20) with Abulele Ndabambi (under-19) and Sebastian Lombard (under-21) claiming the same accolade for the 2022 season.
Kurt-Lee Arendse
Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16, Le Stadium, Toulouse, France 2/4//2023
Toulouse vs Vodacom Bulls
Bulls’ Gerhard Steenekamp
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie
Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16, Le Stadium, Toulouse, France 2/4//2023
Toulouse vs Vodacom Bulls
Bulls’ Embrose Papier
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie
All photos supplied by © Vodacom Bulls
FULL LIST OF THE 2022/23 VODACOM BULLS AWARD WINNERS:
ISUZU Bulls Daisies Player of the Year: Rights Mkhari
SSG Bulls Daisies Players Player of the Year: Byrhandre Dolf
Bulls Daisies Forward Player of the Year: Sinelitha Noxeke
Bulls Daisies Backline Player of the Year: Libbie Jansen van Rensburg
Vodacom Bulls under-19s – 2023
Vodacom Bulls under-19 Forward Player of the Year: Lukas Meyer
Vodacom Bulls under-19 Backline Player of the Year: Alfondso Isaacs
Vodacom Bulls under-19 Player of the Player: Steven Nel
Vodacom Bulls under-20s – 2023
Vodacom Bulls under-20 Forward Player of the Year: Juann Else
Vodacom Bulls under-20 Backline Player of the Year: Katlego Letebele
Vodacom Bulls under-20 Player of the Player: Neels Volschenk
Vodacom Bulls under-19s – 2022
Vodacom Bulls under-19 Forward Player of the Year: Abulele Ndabambi
Vodacom Bulls under-19 Backline Player of the Year: Neil Le Roux
Vodacom Bulls under-19 Player of the Player: Corne Beets
** These awards are handed out this year because the 2022 under-19 competition happened post last season’s awards evening.
Vodacom Bulls under-21s – 2022
Vodacom Bulls under-20 Forward Player of the Year: Sebastian Lombard
Vodacom Bulls under-21 Backline Player of the Year: Quewin Nortje
Vodacom Bulls under-21 Player of the Player: Tiaan Lange
** These awards are handed out this year because the 2022 under-21 competition happened post last season’s awards evening.
CURRIE CUP
Vodacom Bulls Currie Cup Forward Player of the Year: Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Vodacom Bulls Currie Cup Backline Player of the Year: Embrose Papier
Vodacom Bulls Currie Cup Player of the Year: Embrose Papier
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP
Vodacom Bulls Heineken Champions Cup Forward Player of the Year: Johan Grobbelaar
Vodacom Bulls Heineken Champions Cup Backline Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
Vodacom Bulls Heineken Champions Cup Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Vodacom United Rugby Championship ISUZU Forward Player of the Year: Ruan Nortje
Vodacom Bulls Vodacom United Rugby Championship Backline Player of the Year: David Kriel
Vodacom Bulls Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Year: Gerhard Steenekamp
SPECIAL AWARDS
BrightRock BBCo. Employee of the Year: Renique Pepper
Puma most improved senior player of the year: Johan Grobbelaar
AFGRI most improved junior player of the year: Mawande Mdande
Vodacom Fans player of the year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
** Voted for by the fans through the Vodacom Bulls app available for download on all app stores
Vodacom Players Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
Vodacom Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse
A reminder that Jack’s Paint is now available in our AFGRI Retail Standerton and Witbank branches. See promotions in store!
WRSA se 2022 Wildboer van die Jaar, Karel Landman, het diep spore in die wildbedryf in KwaZulu-Natal getrap. Sy twee seuns loop voor saam met ‘n uitgebreide bestuurspan by die Pongola Game Reserve. Kyk vandag saam om 17:30 op VIA TV.