Dutch-born Belgian prop Bert Vermeulen played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the NOLA Gold for his entire MLR career.

Vermeulen represented the Belgium U18s against Japan, Canada, and Spain in 2017, the same year he moved to Ireland to study at Trinity College, where he studied between 2017-2021. During his time in Ireland, Vermeulen represented Trinity in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League and also played with the Connacht Academy while at the University of Galway between 2021-2022. Following his Masters’ Degree in Galway, He moved to the USA and trained with Old Glory DC during the 2023 season before playing with the NOLA Gold Academy in the ARP in the fall. He clearly impressed at the Gold Academy, as on 20th December 2023, the Gold announced that they had signed Vermeulen to an MLR contract for the 2024 season.

Should Vermeulen earn his MLR debut during the 2024 season, he would be the 2nd Belgian to play in Major League Rugby, following Jeremy Lenaerts.