Sale Sharks enforcer Jacques Vermeulen learns his fate after red card

Sale Sharks back rower Jacques Vermeulen has been handed a four-match ban after being given a 20-minute red card during Sunday’s hard-fought 21-17 win over Saracens at the StoneX Stadium.

The 31-year-old made contact with the head of Saracens scrum-half Tomos Williams in the 18th minute as he tried to clear out a ruck, and after a TMO intervention, was sent off to leave Sharks with 13 men, following Alex Lozowski’s earlier sin-binning for a high shot on Alfie Barbeary.

His hearing today was heard by an independent panel chaired by Daniel Gore, sitting with Mick McArdle and former Harlequins lock Olly Kohn.

Vermeulen accepted the charge and received a four-match ban, with no reduction, due to the fact he was charged for a dangerous tackle in the 2024/25 season and has already been to ‘tackle school’.

He’ll now miss this weekend’s home fixture against Harlequins, the following week’s visit of Glasgow in the Champions Cup and trips to Newcastle and Bath in the Gallagher PREM.

Matches missed:

11.10.2026 v Harlequins
17.10.2026 v Glasgow Warriors (EPCR)
23.10.2020 v Newcastle Red Bulls
31.10.2026 v Bath Rugby