Springboks number Duane Vermeulen

SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus is reportedly considering appointing Duane Vermeulen as the Springboks’ next defence coach. Photo by Mark Lewis/Huw Evans/Shutterstock/BackpagePix

Springboks to hire Duane Vermeulen as coach?

Springboks veteran forward Duane Vermeulen will quickly convert from player to coach according to a new report.

Springboks number Duane Vermeulen

SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus is reportedly considering appointing Duane Vermeulen as the Springboks’ next defence coach. Photo by Mark Lewis/Huw Evans/Shutterstock/BackpagePix

Springboks veteran Duane Vermeulen will quickly convert from player to coach according to a new report.

The 36-year-old forward is expected to transition from player to coach in the next season or two. He is now being primed for a top coaching role – as a defence coach – by Rassie Erasmus.

Director of Rugby Erasmus wants to add Vermeulen to his team as he prepares for life after Jacques Nienaber, reports Rapport.

Vermeulen is looking for a new franchise after Ulster opted not to extend his contract.

BUSY SEASON FOR VERMEULEN, SPRINGBOKS

The Springboks kick off the international season against Australia in Pretoria on Saturday, 8 July.

It is in the opening round of the shortened Castle Lager Rugby Championship, which will be followed by clashes against New Zealand at the Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland a week later, and Argentina in Johannesburg on Saturday, 29 July – their final match on home soil for the year.

ALSO READ: Why Stick is the leading candidate

The Springboks will then make the journey to Buenos Aires in August to take on the Pumas before facing Wales and the All Blacks in Rugby World Cup warm-up matches in Cardiff and London in the final build-up to the international showpiece in France.

ALSO READ: Matfield would snub Stick, Dobson for surprise trio

RUGBY WORLD CUP FIXTURES

South Africa will launch their Rugby World Cup title defence on Sunday, 10 September, against Scotland in Marseille, which will be followed by pool matches against Romania in Bordeaux (17 September), Ireland in Paris (23 September) and Tonga in Marseille (1 October).

ALSO READ | The List: The 11 possible Springbok coaches

The Rugby World Cup quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of 14/15 October, with the semi-finals on 20/21 October and the final on Saturday, 28 October.

2023 FIXTURES:

Rugby Championship:
Saturday, 8 July – Boks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 15 July – Boks vs New Zealand (Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday, 29 July – Boks vs Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)

RWC warm-up fixtures:
Saturday, 5 August – Boks v Argentina (Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)
Saturday, 19 August – Boks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday, 25 August – Boks vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London)

ALSO READ: Springboks Test against Australia at Loftus Versfeld SOLD OUT

RWC fixtures:
Sunday, 10 September – Boks v Scotland (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Boks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Boks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – Boks v Tonga (Stade Marseille, Marseille)

Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final

ALSO READ: TWO Springboks linked with French moves

Boks Vermeulen
Duane Vermeulen is a legend. Photo: BackpagePix

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