SA Rugby has instructed Duane Vermeulen to report to the Springbok squad on 5 June no matter what sanctions Toulon may impose on him.
According to Rapport, if the No 8 fails to do this, he will be obliged to put his retirement from international rugby in writing to SA Rugby in order for him to play for Toulon in June.
Vermeulen would then not be allowed to play Test rugby for six months.
According to World Rugby rules, clubs have to release their players for the June Test window. However, Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal recently said he would not pay any player who was not at the club in June.
Photo: Bertrand Langlois/Getty Images
