Paul Willemse

Paul Willemse is a French-South African lock who has represented Top 14 club Montpellier since 2015 and the France national team since 2019.

Born in Pretoria, South Africa on 13 November 1992, Willemse moved to Tsumeb in Namibia and started his youth career. Playing for Tsumeb Gymnasium, he was called up to the Namibian Under-18 Craven Week team in 2009. His potential was clear and shortly after he was offered a junior contract by the Golden Lions. 

In 2011 he participated in the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship for the Golden Lions. Here he scored an outstanding eight tries, making him the leading forward try-scorer. The following year he played in the Currie Cup and Super Rugby for the Golden Lions and the Lions respectively. 

In 2013, he played twice for the UP Tuks during the 2013 Varsity Cup and made a move to the Blue Bulls, participating in the 2013 Vodacom Cup against Griquas and the Pumas. Then, during the 2014 Super Rugby season, he played 15 matches for the Bulls. Meanwhile, in the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division, he started all 11 of the Blue Bulls’ matches. 

Willemse then moved to French Top 14 club Grenoble in 2014. A year later, he moved to French Top 14 side Montpellier. He’s stayed with the club ever since and has won both the Top 14 and the European Rugby Challenge Cup. 

After three years of residency in French territory, Willemse qualified for the France national team. In 2018, it was announced by Bernard Laporte that he would be joining the team, even though he’d played age grade rugby for South Africa. 

Willemse didn’t appear in the French team until January 2019, ahead of the 2019 Six Nations. He made his test debut against Wales and, due to his impressive performance, he went on to play in every game of the tournament. He was recalled to the French team for the 2020 Six Nations and he helped the side win the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2022. 

With such an impressive career, we know we’ll be seeing much more of the talented lock in the future.