Duane asked to explain sudden departure

Cape Town - Stormers captain Duane Vermeulen will be asked to explain his decision to leave the country mere days before the team's Super Rugby Qualifier against the Brumbies, to fly to France to be unveiled by his new employers.

Vermeulen flew to France last week to be officially unveiled by his new club, Toulon, who he is set to join on a three-year deal.

Vermeulen was ruled out of the Stormers' 39-19 defeat at Newlands on Saturday, but would've been expected to play had they made it to the semi-finals.

The Stormers were taken aback by Vermeulen’s sudden trip to France, and Director of Rugby Gert Smal last week expressed his disappointment at the Stormers skipper's decision to leave without informing them.

Smal told EWN Sport on Monday that he will sit down and discuss the issue with Vermeulen.

“We're all very disappointed in the way that he did it. Especially because he’s a senior player and he’s the captain. I will sit down with him as quickly as possible just find out exactly how he thought about the process. It’s definitely not the kind of culture we want to create at Western Province,” said Smal.