Sale Sharks' Champions Cup winning flanker banned for four matches and set to miss Glasgow Warriors clash
South African back rower Jacques Vermeulen punished for dangerous tackle in PREM win over Saracens.
Sale Sharks will be without flanker Jacques Vermeulen for their Investec Champions Cup opening round match against Glasgow Warriors next weekend.
Franco Smith’s side travel to the CorpAcq Stadium looking to get their latest European campaign off to a winning start on Saturday, October 17. They will now come up against a home side that won’t include the South African back rower who will be serving a four game ban.
Vermeulen, who won the competition in 2020 with Exeter Chiefs, was cited for a dangerous tackle in Sharks’ 21-17 win away to Saracens in the latest round of PREM Rugby action. The 31-year-old will miss the match with Warriors along with three domestic fixtures against Harlequins, Newcastle Red Bulls and Bath.
Red card for dangerous play - Champions Cup winner banned for Sale Sharks vs Glasgow Warriors
The former South Africa under 20 international was shown a 20-minute red card for a dangerous tackle on scrum-half Tomos Williams in the first half at the StoneX Stadium. Despite that, the visitors were able to hold on for an impressive victory.
A statement from the RFU said: “The case of Jacques Vermeulen, Sale Sharks, was heard by an independent panel chaired by Daniel Gore, sitting with Mick McArdle and Olly Kohn,” said a statement from the Rugby Football Union. Vermeulen was shown a red card for a dangerous play, contrary to World Rugby Law 9.11, during a match against Saracens on Sunday 4th October. Vermeulen accepted the charge and received a four-match ban.”
Glasgow Warriors are back in action on Friday night for their third fixture of the new URC season as Connacht visit Scotstoun. Franco Smith’s side held on for a 33-33 draw in their last league fixture at home to Ulster, finishing the game with 13 men after two late yellow cards.
The match away to Sale will be their first of the new Champions Cup campaign where they will also face Pau and Leicester Tigers at home plus a trip to France to take on Clermont. Warriors will be looking to emulate their form from last season’s Pool Stage where they topped their section with four wins from four before eventually being eliminated by Toulon in the quarter-finals.
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