Cape Town - Springbok and Stormers No 8 Duane Vermeulen has dedicated his South African rugby awards to his parents.
GALLERY: SA Rugby Player of the Year Awards
Vermeulen on Sunday walked off with three awards at the annual South African Rugby Union Player of the Year Awards.
He was named SARU Rugby Player of the Year after an extensive voting process, which included the country’s rugby media and the public through SARU’s online and social media platforms.
The 28-year-old Vermeulen, who will captain the Stormers this year, also won the coveted SARPA Players’ Player of the Year and Super Rugby Player of the Year Awards for 2014.
An emotional Vermeulen afterwards dedicated his awards to his parents. His dad passed away when he was eight years old.
"It was an unbelievable year," he told Netwerk24. "The biggest achievement for me was just to remain injury free throughout the season. When I wake up tomorrow morning and see the trophies in my home it will all probably sink in."
The winners and finalists (where applicable) in all the categories for 2014 are:
SARU Rugby Player of the Year:
Duane Vermeulen
Finalists:
Nizaam Carr, Marcell Coetzee, Willie le Roux, Handré Pollard
Young Player of the Year:
Handré Pollard
Finalists:
Nizaam Carr, Cheslin Kolbe, Seabelo Senatla, Jan Serfontein
SARPA Players’ Player of the Year:
Duane Vermeulen (Stormers, Springboks)
Springbok Sevens Player of the Year:
Seabelo Senatla
Finalists:
Branco du Preez, Frankie Horne
SA Under-20 Player of the Year:
Handré Pollard
Finalists:
Thomas du Toit, Jesse Kriel
Team of the Year:
Western Province (Currie Cup)
Finalists:
Springboks, Junior Springboks, Springbok Sevens, Golden Lions (Currie Cup)
Coach of the Year:
Johann Ackermann (Golden Lions)
Finalists:
Allister Coetzee (Stormers & Western Province), Neil Powell (Springbok Sevens)
Super Rugby Player of Year:
Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)
Finalists:
Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), Warren Whiteley (Lions)
Vodacom Cup Player of the Year:
Renaldo Bothma (Pumas)
Finalists:
Jonathan Francke (Griquas), Lizo Gqoboka (EP Kings)
Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year:
Nizaam Carr (Western Province)
Finalists:
Juan de Jongh (Western Province), Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions)
Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year:
Boela Abrahams (Griffons)
Finalists:
Sylvian Mahuza (Leopards), Dillon Smit (Leopards)
Try of the Year:
Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs v Crusaders, Vodacom Super Rugby)
Finalists:
Cornal Hendricks (Cheetahs v Blues, Super Rugby), Nathan Nel (UCT v Pukke, Varsity Cup Final), Seabelo Senatla (Western Province v Blue Bulls, Currie Cup), Juan de Jongh (Western Province v Blue Bulls, Currie Cup) and Corné Fourie (Lions v Cheetahs, Super Rugby)
Referee Award:
Craig Joubert
Women’s Achiever of the Year:
Fundiswa Plaatjie
Cell C Community Cup Player of the Tournament:
Michael Nienaber (Rustenburg Impala)
Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Tournament:
Curwin Bosch (Eastern Province)
GALLERY: SA Rugby Player of the Year Awards
Vermeulen on Sunday walked off with three awards at the annual South African Rugby Union Player of the Year Awards.
He was named SARU Rugby Player of the Year after an extensive voting process, which included the country’s rugby media and the public through SARU’s online and social media platforms.
The 28-year-old Vermeulen, who will captain the Stormers this year, also won the coveted SARPA Players’ Player of the Year and Super Rugby Player of the Year Awards for 2014.
An emotional Vermeulen afterwards dedicated his awards to his parents. His dad passed away when he was eight years old.
"It was an unbelievable year," he told Netwerk24. "The biggest achievement for me was just to remain injury free throughout the season. When I wake up tomorrow morning and see the trophies in my home it will all probably sink in."
The winners and finalists (where applicable) in all the categories for 2014 are:
SARU Rugby Player of the Year:
Duane Vermeulen
Finalists:
Nizaam Carr, Marcell Coetzee, Willie le Roux, Handré Pollard
Young Player of the Year:
Handré Pollard
Finalists:
Nizaam Carr, Cheslin Kolbe, Seabelo Senatla, Jan Serfontein
SARPA Players’ Player of the Year:
Duane Vermeulen (Stormers, Springboks)
Springbok Sevens Player of the Year:
Seabelo Senatla
Finalists:
Branco du Preez, Frankie Horne
SA Under-20 Player of the Year:
Handré Pollard
Finalists:
Thomas du Toit, Jesse Kriel
Team of the Year:
Western Province (Currie Cup)
Finalists:
Springboks, Junior Springboks, Springbok Sevens, Golden Lions (Currie Cup)
Coach of the Year:
Johann Ackermann (Golden Lions)
Finalists:
Allister Coetzee (Stormers & Western Province), Neil Powell (Springbok Sevens)
Super Rugby Player of Year:
Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)
Finalists:
Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), Warren Whiteley (Lions)
Vodacom Cup Player of the Year:
Renaldo Bothma (Pumas)
Finalists:
Jonathan Francke (Griquas), Lizo Gqoboka (EP Kings)
Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year:
Nizaam Carr (Western Province)
Finalists:
Juan de Jongh (Western Province), Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions)
Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year:
Boela Abrahams (Griffons)
Finalists:
Sylvian Mahuza (Leopards), Dillon Smit (Leopards)
Try of the Year:
Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs v Crusaders, Vodacom Super Rugby)
Finalists:
Cornal Hendricks (Cheetahs v Blues, Super Rugby), Nathan Nel (UCT v Pukke, Varsity Cup Final), Seabelo Senatla (Western Province v Blue Bulls, Currie Cup), Juan de Jongh (Western Province v Blue Bulls, Currie Cup) and Corné Fourie (Lions v Cheetahs, Super Rugby)
Referee Award:
Craig Joubert
Women’s Achiever of the Year:
Fundiswa Plaatjie
Cell C Community Cup Player of the Tournament:
Michael Nienaber (Rustenburg Impala)
Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Tournament:
Curwin Bosch (Eastern Province)