Duane in hot water after French trip

WESTERN Province rugby director Gert Smal gave Stormers captain Duane Vermeulen a dressing down in a private meeting at Newlands yesterday.

Vermeulen, who missed Saturday’s Super Rugby playoff loss to the Brumbies due to injury, was in France being presented to the media as a new Toulon signing. He has played his last game for the Stormers.

The captain’s absence from the match build-up, despite his injury, caused deep embarrassment for the Stormers as they only heard of Vermeulen’s whereabouts through the media.

“I was extremely disappointed in Duane’s actions,” Smal said.

“He is a senior and respected player in our squad and, most importantly, he is our captain. Not only did he let his teammates down in a very important game week, but he let down his coaches, the union, our stakeholders and, crucially, our supporters, too.

“I had a sit down with Duane this morning and he knows in no uncertain terms that his actions were not acceptable — it is not something we will ever condone at Western Province Rugby.

“But I have accepted Duane’s side of the story and his apology too. He will be addressing his teammates and management tomorrow, to apologise to the entire Stormers squad, and he will also be disciplined internally by us.”

Vermeulen appears to have been misled by Toulon and their notoriously cavalier owner Mourad Boudjellal.

The Toulon bankroller announced last Monday that Vermeulen would be joining the club even though, as per his national contract, Vermeulen has a 90-day contract moratorium on negotiating with a third party.

“I was initially meant to undergo a medical at Toulon and return to Cape Town by Saturday morning to undergo a final medical check in the case of the Stormers progressing to the Super Rugby semifinals,” Vermeulen said.

“When I arrived in France, however, I found myself in the middle of an unexpected press conference, which, it turns out, was to be my unveiling to the local media. That was despite a confidentially clause . . . This is certainly something that I will be taking up with my agent.

“However, all that said and done it still does not excuse my actions. I did not go through the necessary channels to clear this trip with Western Province and for that I would like to apologise.

“Not only did I let my teammates down in what was a huge week for them, but I let down the management and coaches, the union and our proud supporters.

“It certainly wasn’t my intention to cause a furore of any sort, when all the focus should have been on our match against the Brumbies, and for that I would like to apologise to everyone who might have felt let down by my actions.”