Chiefs await news on Vermeulen

By Mark Stevens
12/3/23

Exeter Chiefs forward Jacques Vermeulen will undergo a scan on his foot on Monday to determine the severity of the injury he picked up in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership win over Newcastle Falcons.

The 28-year-old was forced off just before the break at Sandy Park and had to be replaced by fellow South African Aidon Davis in the Chiefs back-row.

Vermeulen has only recently returned to first team duties having been sidelined for a lengthy period with a torn calf.

Chiefs' director of rugby Rob Baxter said: "It is something in his foot. He will have to have an x-ray to see if it is something broken or if it is a ligament problem.

"It doesn't look great, which is a bit of the story of the season for us, but we will have to assess it on Monday."

Baxter will be hoping for good news on Vermeulen, particularly in the wake of England international Harry Williams sustaining a serious knee injury in the recent loss to Harlequins at Twickenham.

"It is a bit like that, but we are a week away now from the last game of the Six Nations taking place, so hopefully we will get all our back-five forwards back from that and that will help thicken us out a little bit in that department," said Baxter.