One of the greatest ever Springboks calls it a day

There’s only one Duane Vermeulen … One of the greatest ever Springboks calls it a day

Springboks’ No 8 Duane Vermeulen runs with the ball in a Test match.

No 8 Springboks The end is near for Duane Vermeulen’s global career.

Duane Vermeulen, arguably the best No 8 in Springbok history, has, as was to be expected, called it quits on his illustrious international career while wearing green and gold.

Over the course of his remarkable 11-season Springbok career, the 37-year-old Vermeulen started 76 Tests while wearing the No. 8 shirt and scoring three tries.

From Mbombela in Mpumalanga, Vermeulen made his Test debut under Heyneke Meyer against Australia in Perth in 2012. He finished his international career by winning his second winners’ medal against the All Blacks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in Paris.

In addition, Vermeulen was one of only five players to win the SA Rugby Player of the Year Award twice since professionalism began: Schalk Burger (2004, ’11), Bryan Habana (2005, ’07, ’12), Fourie du Preez (2006, ’09), Jean de Villiers (2008, ’13), and Pieter-Steph du Toit (2016, ’18, ’19).

Theuns Stofberg, a former loose forward for the Springboks, and Vermeulen are the only players in province history to have won the Currie Cup with three separate unions: the Cheetahs (2007), Western Province (2012), and Bulls (2020).

According to SA Rugby president Mark Alexander, “Duane will always be remembered as one of the true hard men of South African rugby – he was not only a formidable force for the Springboks, but also a multifaceted player who consistently delivered his best.”

“Duane was one of those players who never settled for second best and always offered everything he had to his club, even if he preferred to operate out of the spotlight.

In addition to retiring as the most-capped Springbok No. 8 with two Rugby World Cup winners’ medals, “he was a leader who captained South Africa in four Tests—a wonderful achievement for a player who will be remembered as a true legend of the sport.”

In 2005, Vermeulen earned his Pumas senior provincial debut, following his graduation from Hoërskool Nelspruit. He was courted by the Bulls, but chose to forego the junior ranks in favor of sticking with the Mpumalanga-based union.

Rassie Erasmus, the current director of rugby for SA Rugby, recruited Vermeulen to Bloemfontein in 2005 and 2006 when he was still the head coach of the Free Staters. Two months before turning twenty-one, in 2007, he made his Vodacom Super Rugby debut.

After Erasmus and former head coach Jacques Nienaber moved to Cape Town in 2009, he played for the Stormers and Western Province. He experienced his first taste of international rugby that same year, when he was picked to play for the Emerging Springboks in the Mother City against the British & Irish Lions on tour (he also played against the Lions for WP during the same series).

He was a member of the initial Springbok training group in 2010 in anticipation of the year-end trip, but it wasn’t until two years later that he made his Test debut due to injury setbacks that prevented him from being considered for selection for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Vermeulen also participated in international club rugby, having played for the Kubota Spears in Japan (2018–2020), Ulster in Ireland (2021–2023), and Toulon in France (2015–2018).”Duane left a huge impression everywhere he went, and judging by his global accomplishments, it’s evident that he was not just a legendary Springbok but also an excellent representative for South Africa,” Alexander continued. “As his playing career draws to an end, I would like to thank Duane on behalf of the entire South African rugby family for his selfless service to his country, the Springboks, and his provincial unions. I know he still has a lot to give back to our wonderful game.”

“I would like to wish him, his wife, Ezel, and their two sons, Anru and Zian, the best for their future.”

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