Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal says Duane Vermeulen will leave the French club at the end of the season.

The Bok No 8 is set to rejoin the Stormers in Cape Town.

‘Vermeulen is leaving, he will be replaced by an international level player that we will announce in the next 48 hours,’ said Boudjellal.

Vermeulen’s replacement is reportedly All Blacks flank Jerome Kaino.

‘Duane is leaving because he wants to prepare for the World Cup [in Japan in 2019] – we had offered him a contract that corresponded to the amount of time he works,’ added Boudjellal, suggesting that had meant a pay cut.

‘We wouldn’t have had him for half the year – over 24 months he would have been at the club for 11 months.

‘We made him a great offer but he wants to go home and his national team coach is relying on him.’

Photo: Alexandre Dimou/AFP Photo