Vodacom Super 14

Rebels keen to lure Vermuelen

2010-03-18 13:14
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Heading to Melbourne? (File)

Melbourne - The Melbourne Rebels are upping their interest in South African players with Stormers No 8 Duane Vermuelen reportedly joining the Sharks' Du Plessis brothers - Bismarck and Jannie - on coach Rod Macqueen's wishlist.

The Rebels will form part of next year's inaugural Super 15 tournament.

According to The Australian newspaper, Macqueen and Rebels manager Greg Harris are understood to have met with the Du Plessis' while on their current Super 14 tour with the Sharks - and a move to Australia for the pair has not been ruled out as yet.

Stormers loose forward Duane Vermuelen is also apparently attracting attention and could be interested in a move.

The 23-year-old has not been capped by South Africa and could be eligible to play for Australia if he decided to stay in Melbourne for enough time to obtain a residency.

Although neither of the moves are anywhere near finalised, the interest in South African players from the Rebels is sure to hot up over the next few months.

Reds prop Laurie Weeks was on Thursday confirmed as the first Australian-based signing for the Rebels.

The Rebels previously announced English flyhalf Danny Cipriani as their first signing.

 

Your Comments

Master Hersch3/19/2010 1:21 PM
Most of the time the players who play their best are those who play for their home team, eg juan de villiers at munster? eg2, look at crusaders players, if they go, then they have to prove themselves.
Jaz 3/19/2010 1:00 PM
My money was on Duane becoming Bok this year. His loosie buddy Francois Louw looks to be the real deal as well...better still are the two young locks: Flip v/d Merwe and De Kock Steenkamp. We must keep hold of these guys, and we will have a Bok dream team for the future. For Wales match: Blaauw, Liebenberg, WP Nel, Flip vd Merwe, Bekker, Francois Louw, Jean Deysel, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Hougaard, Peter Grant, Brad Barrit, Ebersohn, Lionel Mapoe, Shadow, Joe Pietersen
Kristie3/19/2010 9:35 AM
they want him because he's lank seksey :)
Kristie3/19/2010 9:33 AM
they want him because he's lank seksey :)
die yster3/19/2010 7:30 AM
@ abrie; where did you get this information abouts PS?
Chris in Oz3/18/2010 11:44 PM
@The voices in your head. Don't worry too much. There is not one Aus player that has not been named as being on the Rebel's "shopping list". So they're now just adding all the SA players on their shopping list. Remember when Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana was on the list? And by the way, the Southern Kings will need to do the same (buy players from other franchises). Because they also don't have the player base to compete in the S14. Look at the Vodacom Cup: The three last placed teams in the Southern Division: EP, Border, SWD. And it is a few steps up from Vodacom Cup to S14. The right thing that SANZAR should have done was to bring in a pacific island team. Rugby is degenerating there and it should have been SANZAR's responsibility to get Fiji, Samoa and Tonga back to strength and help develop them further.
Flyalf3/18/2010 4:43 PM
...of the point. People rate Nick Koster but why? He has played on the wing and were ok. But suddenly he is better than Pierre Spies and Duane Vermeulen. Not that I'm saying he has no talent. But he hasn't showed it yet.
The Voice of Reason3/18/2010 4:35 PM
This is why I was always against the Rebels, Aus doesn't have the player base, and rugby union is a 'nothing' sport in Victoria. The Rebels are allowed 10 foreign players, just think about that. I always said that the Southern Kings were the better rugby option.
Abrie3/18/2010 4:11 PM
Pierrre Spies going to CT anyway....
John3/18/2010 4:09 PM
Duane has been one of the more successful recruits WP has made in recent times & will be a loss. It is a professional game so he has to do what is best for him & his family. Quite honestly I think the pressure to play Quota players is going to get unbearable.
Please3/18/2010 3:39 PM
Just stay put Duane. Be patient. You gonna get your cap this year!
Riaan3/18/2010 3:07 PM
With this new team the Ausies, Kiwis an SA wil support the same team. If they end up winning the super15, which country wil celebrate? Very confusing.
Rebel John3/18/2010 3:00 PM
Yea, bring it on. This is the professional era and I don’t care if we have no Aussies in the team as long as we win! Melbourne is a lovely place and beats Pretoria, Cape town and Durban by a mile. (Not even mentioning security). Rebels will be the most professional outfit and I don’t care if P Daddy owns the team. Sorry Saffers but money and geography counts!!
dronkie3/18/2010 2:38 PM
Soon they will start looking at our overseas players and then the players who is falling victim to the flippen kwota system - I am a non-white by the way but I think we will end up losing some promising youngsters to this franchise
StaalBurgher3/18/2010 2:26 PM
This is ridiculous. How can a new Aussie team be allowed to contract any non-Australian players. Perhaps 1 but 3 or more? Why do they have a team in the first place. This shouldn't be an issue but we all know whenever our players are overseas we lose them to the Springboks which is what gets my blood boiling. It is economical warfare against our sports teams.
the stig3/18/2010 2:23 PM
why wait until next year...can't we just leave the du plessis brothers over there now already...save at least 8 airfares by not bringing them and their oversized egos back
Hannes Visser3/18/2010 2:15 PM
Typical Ozie SH^&!!! Would not give the 15th spot to us, but now don't have enough players to fill it and want ours!
Simon3/18/2010 2:01 PM
This is why the rebels should never have gotten a 4th team! Because its not going to be an Ausie team! its going to be a South African team based in Aus! Any south african franchise would have not had more than 1 or two foreigners!
local is lekker3/18/2010 2:00 PM
the apple doesn't fall far from the tree....these boere wont leave ma's cooking...
Media man3/18/2010 1:53 PM
The Duppies won't go due to some presonal issues. Try again Media!!!!
Laaste lag3/18/2010 1:52 PM
Ek gaan my g@t aflag as die nuwe Rebel span uit Oz oor 2 jaar die Super 15 wen met klomp gekoopte spelers! Sluk maar julle woorde van dit is n proffesionele era en voel dit aan jou hart soos wat ons in die Vrystaat dit al vir jare voel!!!
Gtr3/18/2010 1:50 PM
@ Die yster: Ek's met jou... Dit moes die S14 gebly het.
assegaai3/18/2010 1:46 PM
What a player! Hope he stays with the Stormers. Money talks boys and girls...
DUANE MUST STAY FOR THE BOKS...3/18/2010 1:45 PM
The f*****g shackledraggers must keep their thieving hands off Duane...He will be in the WC mix. In fact I predict he will replace Pierre the Spear sooner rather than later.
Stormer3/18/2010 1:43 PM
He is deff a great player but the stormers still have Nick Coster who maybe even better. They should just ask for some transfer money.
Die yster3/18/2010 1:41 PM
Please tel me whats the use of opening another franchise if the local infracture is not running or have enough capacity to justify a new team.
Rugbyfan3/18/2010 1:32 PM
The du Plessis brothers won't go. Do some research before you publish your articles. THeir father is ill and they have a vested interest in staying close to home.
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