Vermeulen out of playoffs

Cape Town - Stormers No 8 Duane Vermeulen has been ruled out of action for up to eight weeks with knee ligament damage sustained against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last Saturday.

Vermeulen was carried from the field during the Stormers' 44-34 victory and will undergo an operation on Tuesday, according to the Stormers' website.

As a result, Vermeulen will miss the Stormers' home semi-final on Saturday, July 2 as well as the possible final a week later.