The curtain has closed on an incredible Test career for Springbok strongman Duane Vermeulen, and what a way to finish his stint of 76 matches, by winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
At 37, Vermeulen had one last hurrah with the Boks as they defended their title successfully in France, with the veteran becoming one of a select few men’s rugby players to boast back-to-back gold medals at the tournament.
Plenty of pundits did not expect the former Pumas, Cheetahs, Stormers, Western Province, Toulon, Kubota Spears, Bulls and Ulster player to make it to the tournament, especially after missing out on some international action last year.
But Vermeulen turned back the clock and proved them wrong as he played an influential role in the Boks’ triumph in France.
Yesterday, SA…