Duane Vermeulen
DHL Stormers captain Duane Vermeulen met with Director of Rugby Gert Smal on Monday morning, to sort out the events that transpired in France last week.
Vermeulen visited French Top 14 club Toulon late last week and was unveiled to the local media as their new signing – a move which certainly caught Western Province Rugby by surprise.
“I was extremely disappointed in Duane’s actions. He is a senior and respected player in our squad and, most importantly, he is our captain,” said Smal.
“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 DHL Stormers squad, and he will also be disciplined internally by us.”
Vermeulen said: “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 DHL Stormers progressing to the Super Rugby semifinals.
“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 – despite there being a confidentially clause surrounding my move. 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 the powers that be at Western Province and for that I would like to apologise profusely.
“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,” added Vermeulen.
“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.”
It was a bad move for sure, poor timing but I doubt it would have made any difference.
Duane being guilted to make an apology? such toss Is Duane supposed to be a child?
The only thing Duane would have to feel guilty about is if he faked his injury to go to Toulon (which I doubt).
It’s not a good look…and a fine is in order I’d think.. Disappointed in Duane… but his agent soundz suspect… .
Well he’s paid by the WPRU and leaving for a couple of days in the midst of a playoff where, even though he isn’t playing, his leadership and Captaincy skills may have been valuable (and would most certainly have been justifiably expected) is wrong on every level. No getting around that.
Still as i say, I doubt whether it would have made Leyds tackle better, but the timing sucks.
An elementary, but fatal lack of judgment, discernment, respect & loyalty (to management, team, fellow players & supporters), & just plain vanilla common sense.
Yes, he may not be a child … but nor is he future Bok captaincy material.
A pity really; I did not expect this of him.
Duane was probably advised not to give the Stormers management the opportunity to possibly deny his request and to just go without informing them and face the music afterwards.
He may not be a child but he acted like a spoiled brat and deserves the “humiliation” of having to apologise to his teammates and everybody else concerned.
I remember there was a similar outcry a few seasons ago when Schalk, who was injured at the time, was spotted at Clifton the day of a Stormer match. The WPRU later released a statement stating that he had their permission not to be at the match and that he has made a contribution during the training of the team during the week.
I would’ve also faked the injury & made a beeline for the airport if I knew I had to play against the 1,87m 119kg Ita Vaea.
Duane, Duane, Duane. Not very clever and in very poor taste. If I was HM, would not consider Duane as captain if JDV is not fit in time for the WC. HM is a man that speaks of character in players and this is not good character shown by Duane.
RIP Storming Norm Berryman
And one James Ackerman too…
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/33220487
I still dont see the big deal. If he us so important to the team preparations even if he is injured thrn why was he sent home when they were on tour when he wasnt even injured?
Its just wpru blowing the thing out of proportion to focus people away from losing duane for 3 years… At least.
It looks bad though, and could probably have been handled better by duane…but sitting him down and telling him how unacceptable his actions are is just ridiculous… And then there is denial from wpru the last few months that they are in talks with psdt, because they know they were not permitted to do so?
Then gert says, “it is not something we will ever condone at Western Province Rugby”
Bah
@ MacroPolo:
The big deal is that while he is on the payroll and in the employ of the WPRU he isn’t even supposed to leave the borders of the WC, let alone go to France, without the permission of his employers.
If it was all kosher and “only for a fitness test” then why did he leave without first discussing it with, and obtaining the necessary permission, of the WPRU officials?
And, ps. Gert is not on trial here đ
> and return to Cape Town by Saturday morning to undergo a final medical check in the case of the DHL Stormers progressing to the Super Rugby semifinals.
He wouldn’t have played on Saturday, he would only have been fit to play this week so him going to Toulon is irrelevant
It’s not his fault AC selected Dillin “Turnstile” Leyds on the wing
BrumbiesBoy wrote:
Thormeulen skrik vir niks
Ek moet seker bietjie Rugby Nuus opsit!!
Klomp nuus om op te sit!
Ek het ook nou ‘n Mail ontvang vanaf die Bulls om te sĂȘ HandrĂ© Pollard gaan vir 3 maande Japan toe, direk na die WĂȘreldbeker, om vir die NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes te gaan speel!
More, 24 Junie is ook Toetie se laaste Perskonferensie by die WP / Stormers, voor hy weg is Japan toe!
nortie wrote:
Sounds like the Soviet Union
The People’s Republic of the Western Cape
You may enter but never leave
Except with written permission (in triplicate) from Commissar Gert and Comrade Toetie
grootblousmile wrote:
Die Sushi Bulls is op die afdraende pad en totdat hulle nie probleme regstel by die Unie nie gaan dit nie verbeter nie
Hulle kort ‘n afrigter met ‘n sterk persoonlikheid vir wie die spelers sal speel, nie Victor nie, hy was toksies in die spanopset die seisoen
Ek praat van ‘n Kitch, Heyneke, Ackers or Jimmy
Tweedens moet hulle die bestuur regkry, die spelers vertrou nie vir Xander nie dis hoekom hulle elders wil gaan speel
17 @ Victoriabok:
Ek verstaan nie die fixation met Jimmy nie….ja, hy het goed gedoen met die Pumas, maar dieselfde Pumas het sopas onder Mentz ook gewen, en dit weg van die huis af teen die Griekwas, Leeus en WP.
Niemand noem dat Mentz geteken moet word nie.
Dalk is die geheim by die Pumas al die tyd hulle spelers gewees?
@ nortie:
Mentz het dit gedoen met die span wat Jimmy gebou het
18 @ nortie:
As jy die Bulls was (en nie sou wou hĂȘ hulle moet ‘n kak coach kies as opvolger nie), in wie sou jy belangestel het as hoofafrigter?
Wie is daar in SA wat sal inpas in die Bulls setup, wat ook weer dinge sou kon regruk?
@ grootblousmile:
Eerlikwaar, die enigste persoon wat sal werk is of Heyneke of Van Graan.
Hulle verstaan die Bulle, die ondersteuners verstaan en glo in hulle.
Dis dalk net my opinie as n buitestander, maar dis wie ek dink almal sal gelukkig maak
nortie wrote:
Hy’s ‘n ou soos Ackers hy kan die spelers motiveer, hulle sal deur die vuur hardloop vir hom
Een van die ouens op die Bulls site het vir hom gespeel by Waterkloof, hy sĂȘ hy was streng maar regverdig, en ‘n baie goeie afrigter
nortie wrote:
Dawie Theron sal ook werk
Ek wens hulle kon Rassie by SARU weglok, hy sal die Bulls binne twee seisoene laat opstaan
@ Victoriabok:
Ek glo hy is n goeie afrigter, en hy kom voor as n nice ou, maar hy was vir jare hier, net om die draai in Nelspruit, en niemand het hom ooit n offer gemaak nie.
Nou egter, nadat hy Japan toe is, dink almal hy is n moet en die een wat alles kan regmaak?
Ek dink net dat die spelers by die Pumas dalk onderskat word en dat hulle n bietjie “above their weight” gepunch het.
22 @ nortie:
So, wat maak mens as Heyneke en sy span (insluitende Johan van Graan) se dienste en kontrakte by die Bokke hernu word?
Ek is van opinie die Bulls moet bietjie uit die comfort zone of uit die box dink en ‘n geharde, streng breier aanstel om dinge reg te ruk… iemand wat nie juis kak vat nie… en dan spring die eerste naam wat aan daai vereiste voldoen op as Jimmy Stonehouse!
Kyk, die Bulls sal nie sommer ‘n Engelsman soos Nick Mallett of John Mitchell aanstel nie… dink dit sal bietjie clash in Pretoria se geweste. Ek sou natuurlik baie graag ‘n man soos Mallett wou hĂȘ by die Bulls, maar ek dink nie hulle het die ballas om dit te doen nie.
Dit sal ‘n jammerte wees as hulle die maklike roete volg en vir Victor aanstel of selfs net aangaan met Nollis Marais, want dan gaan dinge bittermin verander en ons kan verwag dieselfde kak gaan net voortgaan. Miskien is ek so bietjie hard op Nollis Marais, sonder dat hy nou reeds die Currie Cup agter die rug het.
Hoe ly die gesegde…. “‘n nuwe besem vee skoon”… en ek dink dis wat die Bulls NOU nodig het, ‘n nuwe harde besem!
24 @ Victoriabok:
Theron is nog iemand wat totaal en al oorskat word. Met al ons juniors, wat het hy regtig vermag?
1 wen in 5 jaar. Is dit werklik so goed? En onthou daai wen was toe ons tuis was
26 @ grootblousmile:
Ek stem saam met dit, maar aan die een kant erken jy die Bulls kort n disciplinarian wat nie kak vat nie, maar in dieselfde asem erken jy dat Mitchell en Mallett nie daar sal werk nie, en hulle is juis daai bogenoemde.
Spelers moet nie net reageer as hulle in Afrikaans uitgekak word nie
nortie wrote:
Hy moes lankal ‘n kans in die Bulls opset gekry het maar hy pas nie in by Barend se Tukkies/Affies/Broeders setup nie en dis hoekom hulle eerder vir slapgat Frans gekies het
Onthou jy vir Kitch Christie?
Hy het vir jare in die Carlton Liga afgerig en hulle sou nooit ‘n Engelsman aanstel as Noord Transvaal se afrigter nie
Toe gee Louis Luyt hom ‘n kans en hy wen die Curriebeker en WĂȘreldbeker
@ grootblousmile:
Dink jy HM gaan nog 4 jaar kry?
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