Vermeulen relishing return to action

By Mark Stevens
5/3/22

Jacques Vermeulen is ready to put the frustrations of his injury woes firmly behind him when he lines up for Exeter Chiefs against Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership today.

The South African workhorse is one of a handful of changes Rob Baxter has made to his starting line-up for this crunch Round 19 encounter at Sandy Park.

Having been forced to watch the entire campaign so far from the sidelines due to back-to-back hamstring injuries, the 27-year-old is primed and ready to unleash himself on familiar foes.

“It’s been a tough period, both physically and mentally,” said Vermeulen, who first sustained the injury last season in the clash with Newcastle Falcons. “Getting injured is never nice, but having got to within a few days of coming back, to then re-injure myself was hugely disappointing.

“Now, just a few days away from the game, I have a whole range of emotions. I’m excited, nervous, eager, but most of all, I just want to get back out there with the boys and play some rugby!

“For me, it’s all about Sunday and playing again. It’s going to be a big stepping stone because being out for nine months has been tough.”

Thankfully, Vermeulen has a positive outlook to his life and although he has called on the support of team-mates and staff at the club to help raise his spirits at certain times in his rehabilitation, now he wants to make up for lost time.

“Everyone has been so supportive,” he says. “As I said, there have been times when it’s been tough and when it’s like that I’m probably not the easiest to deal with, but whether it’s my family, the boys around me or guys like Coxy, Steve Haw, the other physios, they’ve all just lifted me and got me back on track.”

By his own admission, Vermeulen admits watching from afar has not been easy, particularly as he wants to be part of the cut and thrust of game days with the Chiefs.

“It’s been up and down at times this season, especially some of those close losses, so it’s been frustrating watching either here at the ground or on the TV,” he explained. “However, we’ve shown over the last few weeks that we have a winning formula and one that works. All I want to do coming in now is add my bit to that formula.

“We’ve got some huge games coming up between now and the end of the season and I want to be part of that. Some of the youngsters in the team, I think a lot of them didn’t expect to play as much as they have, but they’ve done an awesome job. All of them have been given an opportunity and all of them having put their hands up.

“I kind of think our squad is like the top Premier League teams. They have say 1-40 players all of who can add their bit – and I think we’re the same here. When we get our guys back from injuries and the internationals, if you look at our squad and all the others who have played this season, it makes us very strong.”