Duane Vermeulen says he is ready to “fight tooth and nail” to be part of a special World Cup campaign with the Springboks after a successful stint with Ulster.
Vermeulen finished his two-year run in northern Ireland with Ulster, helping the team finish second on the Vodacom United Rugby Championship log, before they were stunned by Connacht in the quarter-finals.
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The former Cheetahs, Stormers and Vodacom Bulls loose forward confirmed in an interview with RugbyPass that he will be returning to South Africa to reconnect with his family in Cape Town.
Turning 37 in July, Vermeulen is aiming for a third World Cup appearance for the Springboks, but would be the team’s oldest player if selected. That has not diminished his drive to make the final 33-man squad, even if he is asked to play a supporting role as the Boks try to defend their title in France.
“Covid played a big role in my decision not to retire from the international game in 2021,” Vermeulen told RugbyPass. “We had a lot of time off after the 2019 World Cup due to the pandemic, and in a sense we had a lot of time to rest our bodies that we wouldn’t have had otherwise.
“I don’t regret my decision to stay on. I’ve come a long way with Rassie and Jacques [having worked under the duo at the Cheetahs, Stormers and Boks] and I respect them a great deal as coaches. I said that if I can add value, I will continue to fight for a spot.
“My goal has never changed, I want to be part of the Bok team and I want to represent them at the World Cup. That said, I realise how much the situation has changed, and how my role may be different this time round. I may be part of the squad, but not a starter. That’s okay – I’ve just got to work as hard as I can to perform that role to the best of my ability.”
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