Bokdle #26: 27 Oct 2026

The mystery green and gold player on 27 Oct 2026 was Duane Vermeulen: Test player #840 · Number 8 · 76 caps · 3 tries · 2× World Cup winner · Captain · School: Hoërskool Nelspruit.

Duane Vermeulen is one of the great Springbok number 8s: a huge, hard-carrying ball-winner who was named man of the match in the 2019 World Cup final and won the trophy again in 2023. Born in Nelspruit (now Mbombela) in July 1986, he went to Hoërskool Nelspruit and started his senior career with the Pumas. Nicknamed "Thor", he was famous for winning the ball on the ground and for carrying through tackles.

The long road to green and gold

After the Pumas he moved to the Free State, winning the 2007 Currie Cup, and in 2009 followed coach Rassie Erasmus to Western Province and the Stormers, whom he captained in 2015. Even then he had to wait: he was left out in 2010 when many expected a call-up, and only made his Test debut in September 2012, aged 26, against Australia in Perth. By 2014 he was South Africa's Player of the Year and on the shortlist for World Rugby's Player of the Year.

Toulon, Japan and back

A neck injury needed surgery in July 2015, about ten weeks before the World Cup in England. He was rested for the shock defeat by Japan, then started the other six games as South Africa finished third. He then spent three seasons with Toulon in France, two with Kubota Spears in Japan, and returned home to the Bulls in 2019, winning another Currie Cup, before finishing his club career with Ulster.

Yokohama and Paris

In the 2019 World Cup final against England in Yokohama he made more carries for more metres than anyone else and was named man of the match as South Africa won 32–12. Four years later, at 37, he started the 2023 final at number 8 as the Springboks beat New Zealand 12–11 in Paris, his last Test. He announced his retirement days later, and in 2025 joined the Springbok coaching staff.

Test record

From bokhist.com's Test-by-Test list:

• Springbok number: 840
• Debut: 8 September 2012, aged 26, at number 8 against Australia at Subiaco Oval, Perth (lost 19–26)
• Last Test: 28 October 2023, aged 37, at number 8 against New Zealand at Stade de France, Paris (won 12–11)
• Tests: 76: 71 starts and 5 off the bench
• Results: 53 wins, 1 draw and 22 losses, a winning rate of 70%
• Starts by position: number 8 68, flanker 3
• Most often played against: New Zealand (15 Tests)
• Captain: 4 Tests, the first against New Zealand on 27 July 2019

Did you know?

• He won Currie Cups with three different provinces: Free State, Western Province and the Blue Bulls.
• He was SA Rugby Player of the Year in both 2014 and 2020.
• His last Test was a World Cup final.

Sources: bokhist.com, en.wikipedia.org, sport24.co.za

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