Toulon sign Vermeulen for 3 years
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal earlier this week confirmed that they had signed the burly Stormers captain.
It confirmed several media reports earlier in the year that linked Vermeulen with a move to the French Top 14 club.
This follows after an earlier report that Vermeulen had rejected a contract offer from the South African Rugby Union (SARU).
According to Netwerk24’s sources, Vermeulen would have been the highest earning Springbok had he accepted SARU’s offer.
In the end however, SA Rugby, was unable to compete with the wealth of the European champions.
Staying with the Stormers, flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis will be ready for their Super Rugby qualifier against the Brumbies at Newlands on Saturday.
Catrakilis suffered concussion in his side’s 19-all home draw against the Lions on June 6 when he attempted to tackle loose forward Jaco Kriel.
The Stormers pivot was rested for last weekend’s 34-12 loss to the Sharks in Durban, with Kurt Coleman taking his place.
But Catrakilis is raring to go for this Saturday’s clash, coach Allister Coetzee confirmed.
“Dim is fine - he passed his test with flying colours, he’s cleared,” Coetzee told the Stormers’ official website.
Meanwhile, in other injury news ahead of this weekend’s meeting with the Brumbies, hooker Scarra Ntubeni (calf muscle) could be available for selection after showing good signs at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sports’ state of the art indoor facilities, where the Stormers trained on Monday.
When asked about Ntubeni’s chances of playing, Coetzee said: “Scarra is training well and he will be considered should he pass a fitness test after running comfortably today.
“I want to see him at full tilt, with acceleration on a field tomorrow. Hopefully, weather permitting, he will be on the field and running flat out (Tuesday), changing direction and things like that. That is where the test for his calf injury will be.”
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
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