Paul Willemse

Paul Willemse (born 13 November 1992) is a rugby union player for French Top 14 side Montpellier. His regular playing position is lock. Although he was born in South Africa, and was part of the Springbok U20 side that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship, he has qualified to play senior international rugby for France on residency grounds, and made his debut against Wales in the Six Nations on 1 February 2019.

Paul Willemse
Date of birth (1992-11-13) 13 November 1992
Place of birthPretoria, South Africa
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight135 kg (21 st 4 lb; 298 lb)
SchoolMonument High School, Krugersdorp
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Montpellier
Youth career
2010–2012 Golden Lions
2013 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 UP Tuks 2 (5)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 Golden Lions 6 (10)
2012 Lions 1 (0)
2013–2014 Blue Bulls 23 (15)
2013–2014 Bulls 20 (15)
2014–2015 Grenoble 17 (5)
2015–present Montpellier 89 (100)
Correct as of 18 January 2019
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 South Africa U20 5 (10)
2019–present France 9 (5)
Correct as of 8 March 2020

Club career

Youth

Despite being born in Pretoria, Willemse moved to Tsumeb in Namibia,[1] where he played rugby for Tsumeb Gymnasium and earned a call-up to the Namibian Under-18 Craven Week squad in 2009.[2]

He was then offered a junior contract by the Golden Lions[3] and moved to Krugersdorp in 2010 to complete this schooling at Monument High School. He once again played at the Craven Week tournament, this time in the colours of the Golden Lions.

In 2011, Willemse represented the Golden Lions U19 side in the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He scored eight tries to finish joint-third on the try-scoring charts and the leading forward try-scorer.[4]

Golden Lions / Lions

In 2012, Willemse made his first class debut, starting the Golden Lions' 23–16 loss to the Leopards in Potchefstroom in the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition.[5] Willemse scored his first try the following week, scoring the Lions' second try in a comfortable 59–29 over near-neighbours Falcons in Johannesburg.[6]

He made two more starts for the Golden Lions in the Vodacom Cup – scoring another try in their match against the Griffons[7] – before being included in the Lions' starting line-up for their 2012 Super Rugby match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, which ended in a 5–26 loss to the Lions.[8] He made one more appearance in the Vodacom Cup before earning a call-up to the South Africa U20 side.

During the latter half of 2012, he was mainly used in the Golden Lions U21 side that played in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring three tries in 11 appearances. However, he also made his Currie Cup debut, starting their 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division match against the Blue Bulls in Johannesburg.[9]

Blue Bulls / Bulls / UP Tuks

For the start of the 2013 season, Willemse made the short move across the Jukskei River to join Pretoria-based side Blue Bulls. He made two appearances for university side UP Tuks in the 2013 Varsity Cup competition before the Blue Bulls' 2013 Vodacom Cup matches against Griquas[10] and the Pumas.[11]

He got another taste of Super Rugby action, starting in the Bulls' Australian tour matches against the Reds in Brisbane[12] and the Brumbies in Canberra,[13] before making three appearances off the bench upon their return to South African soil.

In July 2013, the Blue Bulls announced that he signed a contract extension until 31 October 2014.[14]

Still eligible to play at Under-21 level, he made four appearances for the Blue Bulls U21 side during the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship, but he firmly established himself in the first team, starting ten matches during the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division. He scored three tries during the competition, two of those coming in their match against Griquas in Kimberley.[15]

He featured prominently for the Bulls during the 2014 Super Rugby season, playing in 15 matches during the season. This season saw him score his first try in Super Rugby, in a 26–21 win against the Cheetahs in Pretoria.[16] He ended the 2014 Super Rugby season on a high note, scoring two tries in a 40–7 victory over the Melbourne Rebels in their final pool match of the season.[17]

Willemse started all 11 of the Blue Bulls' matches in the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division as they reached the semi-final of the competition before being eliminated by Western Province in Cape Town.[18]

Grenoble

In June 2014, it was announced that Willemse would join French Top 14 side Grenoble after the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division competition.[19]

Montpellier
Willemse in action in August 2015

Willemse joined French Top 14 side Montpellier in June 2015.[20]

International career

South Africa U20

Willemse was named in the South Africa Under-20 team that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship held in South Africa.[21] Despite Willemse scoring a try for South Africa in their first match of the tournament, he could not prevent his side losing 23–19 to Ireland.[22] He repeated his try-scoring feat in their next match against Italy in a 52–3 victory[23] and he played the entire match as South Africa beat England 28–15 in their final pool match to ensure qualification to the semi-finals.[24]

He started in both the semi-final against Argentina, a comprehensive 35–3 victory,[25] and the final against New Zealand,[26] where he helped South Africa to a 22–16 victory to ensure they lifted the trophy for the first time.

France

In May 2018, Bernard Laporte declared that Willemse could be selected for the French national team due to his three years of residence on French territory as well as his request for a French passport.[27] However, he returned on his position in October 2018 saying that he could not be called until he obtained his passport.[28] On 30 November 2018, he announced that he had obtained French nationality.[29] On 9 January 2019, he was summoned to the French team group to prepare for the 2019 Six Nations.[30]

He was only a reservist in Jacques Brunel's list to prepare for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. However, he quickly forfeited, and was replaced by Romain Taofifénua.[31]

International tries
International tries
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 22 February 2020 Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales  Wales 15–6 27–23 2020 Six Nations

Honours
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References
  1. "Powerful Bulls Arrive in Namibia". AllAfrica. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  2. "Namibia - 2009". School of Rugby. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  3. "Arries snapped up by Golden Lions". The Namibian. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  4. "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2011 ABSA Under 19 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 23-16 MTN Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 59-29 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 71-25 Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Cheetahs 26-5 MTN Lions". South African Rugby Union. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 29-50 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 13 October 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 32-40 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 42-44 Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  12. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Reds 23-18 Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  13. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Brumbies 23-20 Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  14. "Bulle hou vas aan dié jong Turke". Media24 (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  15. "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 10-52 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  16. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Bulls 26-21 Toyota Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  17. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Bulls 40-7 Rebels". South African Rugby Union. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  18. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 31-23 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  19. "Willemse wants away". SA Rugby Magazine. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  20. "Paul Willemse". Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  21. "Goosen, Kitshoff, Du Toit nucleus of powerful SA U20 JWC squad". South African Rugby Union. 25 April 2012. [{{{archiveurl}}} Archived] Check |archiveurl= value (help) from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  22. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 19-23 Ireland". South African Rugby Union. 4 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  23. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 52-3 Italy". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  24. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 28-15 England". South African Rugby Union. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  25. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Argentina 3-35 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  26. "SA Rugby Match Centre – New Zealand 16-22 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  27. Suman, Clément. "XV de France : Alivereti Raka et Paul Willemse bientôt chez les Bleus ? Bernard Laporte répond !". www.lerugbynistere.fr (in French). Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  28. Templier, Wilfried. "Willemse, Raka: Bernard Laporte explique leur non-sélection". rmcsport.bfmtv .com (in French). RMC Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  29. "Tout comme Raka, Paul Willemse a aussi reçu son passeport français". www.rugbyrama.fr (in French). Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  30. "Paul Willemse, Romain Ntamack, Thomas Ramos, Dorian Aldegheri et Grégory Alldritt convoqués pour la première fois avec les Bleus pour le Tournoi des Six Nations". www.lequipe.fr. L'Équipe. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  31. "XV de France - Paul Willemse (France) forfait pour la Coupe du monde". Rugbyrama. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  32. "European Challenge Cup final: Harlequins 19-26 Montpellier". BBC Sport. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
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