Du Preez, who is a former SA Player of the Year, captained the Vodacom Bulls in the Super 14 and showed throughout the year why he is regarded by many as the best number 9 on the planet.

The young openside flanker Deon Stegmann walked away with the Vodacom Super 14 Forward Player of the Year award thanks to brilliant rugby in all of the Bulls' 13 matches while Morné Steyn, who played at flyhalf, centre and fullback was named as the Vodacom Super 14 Backline Player of the Year.

Gurthrö Steenkamp's heroics in the set pieces, tight loose and especially on defence was acknowledged with the Absa Currie Cup Forward Player of the Year, whilst Wynand Olivier's super season landed him the Absa Currie Backline Player of the Year trophy.

The SA under 20 as well as the Blue Bulls' under 21 captain Gerrit-Jan van Velze was deservedly named as the Junior Player of the Year after leading the SA u20 team to the final of the Junior World Cup and captaining the Bulls in their undefeated campaign in 2008.

Van Velze's loose forward partner, the medical student Okkie Kruger, was named as the Junior Forward Player of the Year, whereas the promising flyhalf Burton Francis received the trophy for the Best Junior Backline Player.

Awards:
Vodacom Bulls/ Blue Bulls Player of the Year: Fourie du Preez
Vodacom Super 14 Forward Player of the Year: Deon Stegmann
Vodacom Super 14 Backline Player of the Year: Morné Steyn

Absa Currie Cup Forward Player of the Year: Gurthrö Steenkamp
Absa Currie Backline Player of the Year: Wynand Olivier

Junior Player of the Year: Gerrit-Jan van Velze
Junior Forward Player of the Year: Ockert Kruger
Junior Backline Player of the Year: Burton Francis

Media Award of the Year: John Mametsa