South African forward Jacques Vermeulen will leave Exeter Chiefs at the end of the season, Planet Rugby understands.

Vermeulen has been a key cog in the Exeter pack since his arrival from the Durban-based Sharks in 2019.

However, he has opted to take up a contract in the Japan Rugby League One with Toyota Verblitz believed to be the favourite for his signature after beating off South African interest.

Meanwhile, speculation has been rife at Munster about a potential swoop for Springboks flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and Vermeulen could be on his way to Japan to fill the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year’s void.

Vermeulen to leave Exeter

Vermeulen‘s contract at Sandy Park expires at the end of the current season and with frustrations around not being eligible to represent England at Test level, the back-rower looks set to depart Exeter.

Sources close to Exeter Chiefs informed Planet Rugby of the back-rower’s impending departure with Japan the likeliest of destinations.

The 29-year-old hoped to qualify for England on residency grounds but is being roadblocked from doing so after representing South Africa at U20s level back in 2015.

At the time, the youth team was considered the country’s second side meaning that unlike Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman, he is unable to switch international allegiances.

“It’s very frustrating,” he told BBC Radio Devon in November.

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“I don’t know why they’re stopping it because how can they say when you were 19 or 20 years old now you’re capped for a country, but you played for the Under-20s.

“I don’t think they can still keep you underneath that because if you go – look how many guys are playing for Scotland that were playing for Junior Boks, guys like Duhan van der Merwe, Pierre Schoeman, like there’s so many guys.

“I get really angry about it because I’m like, how can you stop a guy after they played 10 years ago for a country.”

Filling du Toit’s void?

This, paired with family reasons has pushed Vermeulen to seek opportunities away from Exeter with a move to the Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster-coached Verblitz on the cards for the South African.

Planet Rugby also understands that the Bulls and Stormers were in the running for his signature, the latter more than the former, but the preference is in Japan.

On Tuesday, Exeter announced the signing of Wallabies back-rower Tom Hooper who is set to fill Vermeulen’s void in the back-row stocks while the Australian is also capable of slotting in at lock.

As mentioned above, there is speculation that Munster are plotting a bid to sign Springboks forward Du Toit but the rumour has little legs at the moment. If he were to leave Verblitz, Vermeulen would plug his void in Japan.

READ MORE: Springboks star’s ‘return home’ finally confirmed as Stormers fill scrum-half void

Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/jacques-vermeulen-to-leave-exeter-chiefs-and-possibly-fill-pieter-steph-du-toits-void-in-japan