• Stormers left red-faced as Springbok back-row is unveiled in France • South Africa player of the year disappointed with his agent

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The South Africa and Stormers back-row Duane Vermeulen has received an unusually harsh dressing down after he signed for the French Top 14 side Toulon last week without the knowledge of his current employer.

Vermeulen, who missed the 39-19 Super Rugby qualifier defeat by the ACT Brumbies on Saturday with a neck injury, was pictured on Toulon’s Twitter feed being introduced to the French media after signing a three-year deal last Thursday.

Stormers management and the coach Allister Coetzee had no knowledge of his French expedition and were left red-faced when shown the images.

Gert Smal, director of rugby at the Cape Town-based Western Province union, met Vermeulen on Monday and did not mince his words.

“I was extremely disappointed in Duane’s actions. He is a senior and respected player in our squad and, most importantly, he is our captain,” he said in a statement from Western Province Rugby.

“Not only did he let his team-mates down in a very important game week but he let down his coaches, the union, our stakeholders and, crucially, our supporters too. I had a sit down with Duane this morning and he knows in no uncertain terms that his actions were not acceptable.

“But I have accepted Duane’s side of the story and his apology too. He will also be disciplined by us.”

Vermeulen says he believed he was in France for a medical only and was surprised to be paraded in front of the media.

“I was initially meant to undergo a medical at Toulon and return to Cape Town by Saturday morning to undergo a final medical check in the case of the Stormers progressing to the Super Rugby semi-finals,” he said.

“When I arrived in France, however, I found myself in the middle of an unexpected press conference, which, it turns out, was to be my unveiling to the local media – despite there being a confidentially clause surrounding my move.

“This is certainly something that I will be taking up with my agent.”

Vermeulen is the South Africa Rugby Player of the Year and will be a big part of the Springboks plans at the World Cup in England this year.