In conversation with Jacques Vermeulen – Featured Durban Blog

His junior pedigree shows all the signs of a player with huge potential, but now, as a senior player, newly signed Jacques Vermeulen knows that he has to prove himself in the cauldron of Super Rugby.

He played representative rugby for Western Province, from U13 Coca-Cola Craven Week, U16 Grant Khomo Week, U18 Craven Week (two years) and SA Schools, before representing our country at the IRB Junior World Championship in 2014.

It has been a stellar career in the junior ranks, but now he has the opportunity to play Super Rugby, having achieved every other milestone towards that level, having joined the Cell C Sharks this season.

“After attending high school at Paarl Gym – which was a good rugby and academic school – I signed up with Western Province for three years,” he explains of his early career.

“After that, I had the opportunity to come to The Sharks, and I took it. It seemed like a very good opportunity at a very good rugby union, one of the best in the world, so it was an obvious option to follow.”

Although it could be daunting for someone still just 21 to make the transition away from the province he had called home for all of his life, he is happy to report that it has been smooth sailing.

“Initially, it was a very difficult decision to make, but already, by the end of my first week here in Durban, it felt like home,” he explains. “All the guys were really welcoming and the Durban people are very nice so it’s been easy adapting to my new rugby adventure.”

He further explains the rationale behind the switch: “I’m a very young player still and at Western Province, there were a lot of good players in my position. I believed that I needed to experience a change of scenery and I felt that Durban was the place to come.”

He is philosophical about his own fortunes at The Sharks, especially as he moved to Durban because he felt his own career there might be stymied due to the number of players all vying for the same position as his.

He accepts that he is not just going to walk into the team, even though he is aware that under Head Coach Robert du Preez, there are opportunities for youngsters who are willing to put in the hard yards. Last year’s Currie Cup competition is evidence that he subscribes to the notion that, ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.’

“There are frontline players who were in the starting line-up here before me, so it’s not like I’m going to walk into the team, I know I have to work my way in which means I’ll be working hard and trying my best.”

So what does he believe he can contribute to the Cell C Sharks back row trio?

“There are a lot of good loose forwards in this team, but I can play in any of the six, seven or eight jerseys, although generally I’m a seven. I like to play running rugby, but also to bring versatility to my position – whichever one I am picked to play.

“I look forward to contributing in any way I can.”