The Exeter Chiefs have confirmed the signing of ex-Sharks loose forward Jacques Vermeulen on a permanent three-year deal, effective immediately.

The 24-year-old forward heads to Devon from South African Super Rugby outfit the Sharks, and is the latest addition to the Chiefs squad for the 2019-20 English Premiership season.

Vermeulen got his first glimpse of Sandy Park this morning having jetted in from Cape Town and will now waste little time in integrating himself into the club’s first-team squad.

‘I’m very excited about the opportunity to come to a world-class club like Exeter Chiefs,’ Vermeulen said. ‘Today, I feel like a little boy again, very excited about the challenge and just being part of the team.

‘I’ve watched a lot of games on TV and I saw Sandy Park is always full on match days. The team itself play very good rugby and I can’t wait to be part of the vibe of the team, learning about the culture and doing my best for the club.’

Having started his senior career with Western Province, Vermeulen has been with the Sharks since 2017 and was a prominent figure this past season for them, featuring in 16 Super Rugby fixtures, as well as helping his side reach the semi-final of the Currie Cup.

Photo: Exeter Chiefs