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Vermeulen's return to South Africa confirmed

Duane Vermeulen playing for Springboks.(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Duane Vermeulen has sealed his return to South Africa.

Vermeulen currrently plys his trade for the Kubota Spears in Japan, having left Toulon last season. His move back to Super Rugby is a clear bid to make the Springbok plane for the Rugby World Cup in Japan next year.

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Vermeulen wasn’t involved in the Rugby Championship due to his club commitments in Japan.

The No 8, who played for French club Toulon between 2015 and 2018, had been linked to the Stormers and English club Bath, but it’s the Blue Bulls who have won the race to his signature.

He has been capped 42 times for the Springboks, but he will now significantly add to that tally.

In a statement the Blue Bulls said: “The Blue Bulls Company are excited to confirm the signing of Springbok eight-man Duane Vermeulen.

“The big ball carrying loosie, who is currently plying his trade in Japan, will arrive in Pretoria in February 2019, and will spend the duration of the season with the Vodacom Bulls.

“Big Duane has donned the Green and Gold of the Springboks on 42 occasions, and boasts an illustrious career with a number of top class teams including: Pumas, Toyota Cheetahs, DHL Stormers, Toulon and the Kubota Spears.

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BBCO High Performance Manager, Xander Janse van Rensburg, said: “Duane is an amazing rugby player, and is well respected around the world. We firmly believe that his abrasive style of play and experience will add immense value to our Vodacom Super Rugby campaign next year. At the age of 32, he is a seasoned veteran, that just gets better with every season.”

“2019 is going to be a massive year for us,” said Vermeulen, “and I’m keen on starting it with an impact at Loftus. The Bulls have always been a team that I have respected and I’m looking forward to joining the family.”

A product of Nelspruit High School, he played for the Stormers between 2009 and 2015, after stints at the Cheetahs and Pumas.

You may also like: Join RugbyPass employee of the month runner-up Sam Smith as he embarks on an epic journey across Europe to track down some of the finest Kiwi talent plying their trade in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Nickers 17 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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