Bekker's turn at Stormers

ANDRIES Bekker is set to captain the Stormers for the first time in two years after Duane Vermeulen was ruled out of their final Super 15 tour match against the Western Force with a knee injury yesterday.

Bekker, who led the Stormers once against the Brumbies in 2010, will become the Stormers' fourth skipper of the year after Schalk Burger suffered knee ligament damage in the opening game of the season, Jean de Villiers suffered a wrist injury in round eight and Vermeulen's injury against the Reds in round nine.

Bekker missed last week's match because of a lower back injury but is expected to play against the Force. Should he not start, flyhalf Peter Grant will captain the team for the first time.

Coach Allister Coetzee originally gave Vermeulen the all-clear after their 23-13 win against the Reds, in which he captained the side for the first time, unaware of the player's injury. But the team's medical staff later found that Vermeulen was carrying an injury in a routine medical assessment.

Western Province flank Don Armand and centre Berton Klaasen were set to fly to Perth yesterday to join the touring group.