Vodacom Bulls suit-up and celebrate in style

Bulls centre Lionel Mapoe walked into the Loftus Versfeld changeroom and couldn’t believe what he saw. Teammates who he had only ever seen in training or match-day kit were now dressed in suits.

The front row was taking the front seat in the fashion stakes, while the backline turned on the Bond style for an exclusive photo shoot as they prepared for a glittering gala evening at the Vodacom Bulls Awards.

“I never knew some of the guys could dress so well. They surprised me. I always see them in their game kit, but here they were looking pretty flashy. It was good to see them like that. But nobody comes close to my style,” said Mapoe, who is recognised as the style icon
in the team.

The unique photo shoot set the tone for a Vodacom Bulls Awards evening at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria that brought the players and their partners, coaches and sponsors together for a celebration of the 2022/23 season. It was a night that paid tribute to the depth, diversity and excellence in their ranks, right from Under-19 level through to the undefeated Bulls Daisies women’s team and the senior Vodacom Bulls team.

“In my own career I didn’t always celebrate the great moments,” said Bismarck du Plessis as he reflected on the significance of the evening. “My advice to the younger players is that these are the moments you should take the time to cherish. Awards like these are celebrations of small victories that make a big difference in the Vodacom Bulls culture.”

Kurt-Lee Arendse arrived wearing a jacket that was unique in its own style – his Springbok blazer after being announced as a member of the Rugby World Cup squad earlier that day.

The 27-year-old speedster walked away with an impressive five awards on the night including the Vodacom Player of the Year, the Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Year, the Vodacom Players’ Player of the Year, and the Vodacom Bulls awards for the Heineken Champions Cup Player of the Year and the Heineken Champions Cup Backline Player of the Year.

“There were so many players that put their hands up this past season and I’m really honoured to have received these awards. To be rewarded for the hard work is really special. My teammates are all very skilful. I’m just pleased that I’ve been able to contribute to the team this past season,” he said.

Amongst the other awards on offer, captain Ruan Nortjé was named as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship ISUZU Forward Player of the Year. “It was a challenging season for us but we learnt a lot to take forward into the new season. I think we lacked a bit of experience at crucial moments last season, and in those tight games. But we’re looking forward to the new season. We’ve worked hard to ensure that this new season is a successful one and meets the high standards we set for ourselves at the Vodacom Bulls,” he said.

David Kriel, who added to his suit with a cheeky vintage flat cap, walked off with the union’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship Backline Player of the Year award. “It was so good to see everybody dressed up. The photo shoot was interesting. It’s the first time I’ve been in the Loftus changeroom in a suit. We joked that some of those photos are good enough to be posters. But it was good to just come together and reflect on the past season. There were disappointments for us, but we also know what to work on,” he said.

And Gerhard Steenekamp won the union’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Year award in a season which also saw him earn his first Springbok cap. “It’s so good to look back on the season together. Nothing in rugby comes on your own. It’s all about the teammates you have around you. But I must say I couldn’t recognise a few of my teammates in their suits. I’m used to just seeing them in training kit,” he said.

For a group of players who faced several challenges last season and who battled great odds, 2022/23 was not the season they necessarily felt they were truly capable of. But across the board, they are hungry to change that.

“When you play for a brand like the Vodacom Bulls, it wasn’t the season we wanted. We have high standards. But we’ve got a strong group this year and we’re very positive about the new season. We’ve got a great mix of senior players, young players and a few new faces. The guys have worked hard in pre-season and we’re ready to improve,” said Johan Goosen.

Cornal Hendricks said the tone for the new season has been set by one of the toughest pre-seasons he’s ever experienced. “We’ve had a hard pre-season and we’ve set the mentality and tone for the new season and that makes me excited. As a senior player, I love bringing that energy and just getting the mindset of the group right for the new challenge.”

Nizaam Carr felt the awards evening was also an opportunity to pay tribute to those behind the scenes who are also a key part of the Vodacom Bulls family. “It was fantastic to see the wives and partners also celebrating with us. They put in a lot of work behind the scenes that makes us as players confident when we run onto the field.”

And for Willie le Roux, it made him all the more eager to join his new teammates after the Rugby World Cup and chase the silverware they’re determined to win this season. “You know, it was great to mingle with the team in a social setting like that before I join them next
season. I see they’ve trained really hard in the pre-season and I’m looking forward to the new season with them.”

There’s a new style to the Vodacom Bulls, and they’re certainly ready to take the spotlight this season.