Premiership
Vermeulen set for Chiefs return
By Mark Stevens
15/9/22
Exeter Chiefs hope to have South African forward Jacques Vermeulen available for selection again next week after he was forced to stay in his homeland after personal documents were stolen.
The 27-year-old forward sat out the club’s pre-season friendly with Ulster, as well as last weekend’s Gallagher Premiership win over Leicester Tigers, after thieves broke into his car.
Vermeulen had returned home to pick up a new passport as part of his visa criteria, but it was whilst he was home that thieves struck, leaving him stranded and unable to return to the UK.
“Jacques is well and should be back by the weekend,” declared Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter. “Jacques had a valid passport, but as people involved with sport will know, to move around Europe you need to have a certain visa and when you apply for that visa, one of the things you have to have is three clear pages in your passport.
“Jacques didn’t have that, so he had to get a new passport. The best way to do that was make the application and pick it up in South Africa, which we aligned to do during our week off, but whilst waiting to pick up his new passport, he had other documents stolen from a car break-in, which then meant other elements had to be re-applied for, including his residency card which he wasn’t allowed to fly without.
“It’s just taken time to get that other paper work sorted. Ironically, his new passport wasn’t stolen and he was able to pick that up.”
Baxter confirmed Vermeulen is one of a number of star names who could come back into the selection mix ahead of next week’s home clash with Harlequins at Sandy Park.
Internationals Luke Cowan-Dickie, Stuart Hogg and Henry Slade are all back in training with the first team, as are young Welsh lock Dafydd Jenkins and full-back Josh Hodge.
Vermeulen, who was part of the Exeter side that won the Premiership and European Champions Cup double in 2020, spent 10 months on the sidelines last season with a serious hamstring injury, only returning last March.
“The important thing is no-one got hurt in the incident,” added Baxter. “We dealt with last weekend’s game and I’m pretty certain that all the conversations we’ve had that Jacques will come back ready to play and ready to go.
“We’ll have a good look at him this weekend when he gets back and then we’ll assess him for next week.”
Content & Images from – Exeter Chiefs Rugby
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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