Vermeulen keen to make up for lost time
By Mark Stevens
12/3/21
By his own admission, Jacques Vermeulen is desperate to make up for lost time.
Having played a significant part in helping Exeter Chiefs record a historic English and European double last season, this season has been more of a watching brief for the all-action South African.
Shoulder surgery just days after his side’s Twickenham triumph in November meant the 26-year-old spent the best part of four months watching from the sidelines as Rob Baxter’s side went about the task of defending their two crowns.
Now, the former Sharks ace is back and ready to offer a real bite to the Chiefs as they look to attack the second half of the season. His recent playing return against Sale Sharks signalled the end of his lengthy rehab – and against Bath last weekend he further showed that his destructive force had not diminished at all.
“It’s been a long and tough few months,” said Vermeulen. “Obviously, my body got a bit of a rest, but I wouldn’t say rehab at the Chiefs is resting. Guys like Coxy [Nick Cox] and Steve Haw have worked me really hard, making sure I get back to where I need to be.
“It’s never nice when you are injured, it can be tough, but we had a decent little rehab group. Guys like Nowellsy, Jannes and Moony, we were all in it together supporting one another along the way.
“Having that support, especially when the guys are outside and you are inside, it definitely helps lift your spirits. We’d be in the gym, getting good vibes, good music and just working hard. I’ll be honest, I am not the biggest fan of the gym, but Nowellsy was a good inspirator and we all motivated one another.”
In his absence from the field, Vermeulen says his daily grind in the rehab gym would be dove-tailed with binge-watching various box-sets such as Vikings, Last Kingdom and Ted Lasso, as well as regular online gaming sessions with his brother and team-mates at the Chiefs.
“As I said, rehab is never easy, especially when you are in lockdown,” he added. “It’s been tough at times. Not being able to see your family other than on video calls and having to watch the boys every weekend on TV at home, it’s all plays a part.
“Thankfully, we have a great support system at the club. The players, the coaches, the staff, they all make it a lot easier for you. Hopefully, over these next few months things will continue to improve and we can get back to some kind of normality in our lives.”
Indeed, it’s hoped before the end of the current season, supporters will be able to return to Sandy Park on match-days, something Vermeulen says he and his team-mates are relishing.
“It will be amazing to have fans back inside the stadium,” he said. “It won’t be just a boost for us as players, it will be great for the people as well. Getting out and enjoying yourselves is a big thing in terms of anyone’s mental health, it lifts everyone, so it will be good to see people back enjoying what that love.”
Equally, Vermeulen is hopeful that as restrictions lift, he too will be able to get back to his native South Africa and see family for the first time in over a year.
“Since I was last home, my brother’s wife got pregnant, had the baby and so many other things have happened,” added Vermeulen. “Luckily, I speak to my parents every day on a video call, it’s not the same as having that affection of a touch or a hug.
“With my brother, I’ve been able to trash talk a little with him on Call of Duty late at night, but I’ve had video calls with his baby – that can’t speak yet – so you just have to make it work.”
For all the hardship of the past 12 months, Vermeulen is quick to say he would not have ‘changed a thing’.
He added: “Even with Covid, the injury, winning two cups, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Coming to Exeter, meeting new people, new team-mates, winning two Cups, these are great feelings for me. The success of last season are without doubt the highest points of my career so far. Nobody can take away the achievements of what we did, but as a team we want to build on that and get better.
“That is what is driving all of us each day. We want to be better players and we want to be a better team. The Covid situation meant we couldn’t celebrate how we would have liked, but I know I made my family very proud and now I want to get back out on the pitch and do my best all over again.
“We’ve got a big second half of the season coming up and although we’ve had to change the side up at times, every guy here knows what is expected of them when they go onto the pitch. As Rob always says, whoever the guy who has the jersey, you are the one entrusted with stepping up and doing the job.”