CAPE TOWN // South Africa loose forward Duane Vermeulen was given an all-clear after consulting a neurosurgeon on Monday for a neck spasm that had threatened his participation in the Super Rugby play-offs and possibly the Rugby World Cup.
He suffered the spasm after training on Friday, ahead of the Stormers’ derby against the Lions, prompting the team doctor to suggest he could be sidelined for some time.
The neurosurgeon gave him a positive prognosis, much to the relief of the supporters and the officials.
“Duane Vermeulen saw a neurosurgeon and the neurosurgeon has given us the positive feedback that he continues to improve and that he still shows no signs of specific nerve root irritation,” said Stormers team doctor Jason Suter.
“After reviewing the MRI with his radiology colleagues, the neurosurgeon is confident that the disc bulge is old and has not changed from previous scans, and is not the cause of the severe spasm.
“Duane will undergo extensive physiotherapy over the next 10 days.
“The neurosurgeon has also indicated that there is no risk of exacerbating the injury and feels that Duane will be able to play in the Super Rugby play-offs.”
Springbok regular Vermeulen, voted South Africa’s Player of the Year in February, will sit out the last game of the regular Super Rugby season against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday with the Cape Town franchise now confident he will be available for the start of the play-offs on June 20.
The Sharks, who will end a dismal Super Rugby season on the weekend, have confirmed the departure of three of their key Springbok players as the rebuilding starts for next year.
The Du Plessis brothers, hooker Bismark and prop Jannie, as well as loose-forward Willem Alberts will all play their last game for the club on Saturday against the Stormers.
It has been reported they will head to France’s lucrative Top 14 competition.
All three players are, injury permitting, likely to be part of the South Africa squad at the World Cup in England starting in September.
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