Toulon have appointed Duane Vermeulen as club captain for the upcoming season.

The club's new coach, Diego Dominguez, first big decision was relieving hooker Guilhem Guirado of the captaincy duties and handing it to the Springbok No 8, who is only entering his second season at Toulon.

Vermeulen is expected to miss the opening rounds of the French Top 14 in favour of the Springboks' Rugby Championship campaign and will only be able to take the captain's armband in October when he returns to Toulon.

With Matt Giteau also set to play for the Australia in the Rugby Championship and Guirado currently nursing a knee injury, it is unclear who the interim captain will be.

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