Duane Vermeulen potentially lining up coaching role at Stormers

The long-time servant of South African rugby recently called time on a stellar career that spanned 11 years, three World Cups, countless rampaging runs and steals at the breakdown.

Given his appearance in the coaching box in recent times, there has been much speculation about Vermeulen's future in the game post-retirement. Speaking to rugby365.com, Stormers coach John Dobson confirmed that the Cape Town franchise had been in communication with the former No.8.

"As we know, he is technically outstanding," said Dobson of the 37-year-old.

"He acted as a player and a coach at Ulster and I suspect very much at the Springboks. I don't know if he is going to be involved there. I am just hearing the odd talk.

"We started talking to him last year about his retirement and he was keen to stay in Cape Town.

"We reached an idea where he could sort of look after our forwards in the pathways, which is very important. If we need him up here to help with breakdowns or something like that then it would be great.

"We will see how Duane fits in and I think he is keen to come and we are keen to have him, but it still does need some movement off the field if you know what I mean. To understand how it is going to work and in terms of budgets.

"What I like very much about our new owners is that we are not going to go down the 'Galactico' route.

"Western Province rugby needs to be sustainable. It can't be a bottomless pit. There is a will from everybody to have him [Vermeulen] involved and I think he is keen and hopefully, we can have it wrapped up in the next couple of weeks."

Vermeulen was spotted in the coaching box alongside Bok's brains trust Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber during South Africa's epic World Cup clash against Ireland in France.

But when asked about Vermeulen's possible future as a coach, Nienaber gave little away.

"I can't say if he's preparing for the future," said the head coach at the time.

"It's not the first time that we have had a player in the box. It's good for us as coaches to sometimes have a player, because they give us a different perspective of how our communication is within the team. They get a sense of the sometimes frustration that coaches are under in a coaches' box. That grows them as a player."

With his vast experience at the sharp end of World Rugby and an apparent eagerness to get involved in coaching, Vermeulen would be an asset to any franchise willing to sign him.

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