Paul Willemse ruled out for the rest of the season

Top 14 leaders Montpellier have been dealt a massive blow ahead of their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final at La Rochelle as Paul Willemse, the recent Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam winner with France, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. 

The 29-year-old South African damaged his knee in last Saturday’s league defeat versus Lyon and the medical update issued by his club on Tuesday wasn’t good. 

A statement from Montpellier read: “We can confirm Paul Willemse’s knee injury following the confrontation against Lyon. He suffered a rupture of the medial-lateral ligament of the knee. 

Scaling The French Rugby Pyramid | Zack Henry | Le French Rugby Podcast | EP 27

We’re joined by an Englishman in the Pyrenees as Pau fly half Zack Henry talks us through his journey from Rouen in Federale 1 up through PRO D2 and to the Top 14 via a stint at Leicester in the Premiership. We hear how playing under Steve Borthwick at Tigers wasn’t the right fit, what Gabin Villiere was like back in his days as a back-up scrum half in the French third tier, how dangerous Chouffe socials can be and what happens when you injure your hamstring and are sent to a faith healer rather than a physio! Plus, Johnnie makes a big prediction about who will miss out on the Top 14 play-offs, we discuss Spain being stripped of their place at the World Cup in France next year and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD20 at checkout for 20% off any full price item at Meater.com

Scaling The French Rugby Pyramid | Zack Henry | Le French Rugby Podcast | EP 27

We’re joined by an Englishman in the Pyrenees as Pau fly half Zack Henry talks us through his journey from Rouen in Federale 1 up through PRO D2 and to the Top 14 via a stint at Leicester in the Premiership. We hear how playing under Steve Borthwick at Tigers wasn’t the right fit, what Gabin Villiere was like back in his days as a back-up scrum half in the French third tier, how dangerous Chouffe socials can be and what happens when you injure your hamstring and are sent to a faith healer rather than a physio! Plus, Johnnie makes a big prediction about who will miss out on the Top 14 play-offs, we discuss Spain being stripped of their place at the World Cup in France next year and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD20 at checkout for 20% off any full price item at Meater.com

“We currently estimate his unavailability at eight weeks. He will finish the season in the medical service and will remain present with the group in order to support his partners in the final stretch. We wish him a good recovery.”

Willemse was a Montpellier starter in their dramatic one-point aggregate victory over their two round of 16 leg matches versus Harlequins last month and his absence for the European clash with La Rochelle and the games to follow in the Top 14 won’t just affect his club as the injury will also see him miss the France tour to Japan in July. 

Shaun Edwards on his favourite two French bruisers, how he successfully gets his message across to the France players, and how Antoine Dupont compares to other scrum-halves he has coached.
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His injury is the latest complication for Montpellier boss Philippe Saint-Andre. The season ended recently for Cobus Reinach following his shoulder injury while tighthead Mohamed Haouas is due to appear at a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday following a dangerous tackle on Clement Laporte. He could be suspended for several weeks.

Following this weekend’s European quarter-final, Montpellier have two matches remaining in the regulation league season before the end-of-season Top 14 playoffs.