“I think I'm at a pivotal moment in my career”: Paul Willemse opens up about his situation after long months of struggle

Finally back in Bayonne (27-26) last week after six months of absence due to concussion and suspension, MHR second row Paul Willemse talks about the period he experienced and his future.

After six months of absence, is it nice to play rugby again ?

Yes, I felt a bit lost. I felt like a young person, stressed and everything (laughs). In my professional career, apart from the Covid period, this is the first time I have been absent for so long. My worst injury was four months. And again, this was different. It was my head that I had to treat.

Exactly, how is this head doing ?

In the medical community, I am considered an “orange” case. That is to say, I can continue to play, but you have to understand that I have taken 5 KOs in one year, and that each shock was more important than the previous one. Not in terms of intensity, but in terms of impact on my integrity. The last one I took (against Ulster, on April 7), it knocked me out even though it was not so violent.
In twelve years of career, I have not taken a single concussion. There, in one year, I took five.

How do you explain it ?

The first explanation is that I should have maybe taken more rest after the first KO. It would have made me more sensitive.
The second is more annoying. With all the little shocks I've taken over the last twelve years, my head is only now alerting me to the “danger”. And if that's the case, we need to take it a lot more seriously.

“But if I have to stop, it's not the worst thing in life”

So ?

The specialist gave me the green light to start again. This year is a turning point for me. Either it's the second option, and you have to stop in case of another KO. Either everything is fine and it's just that I didn't get enough rest the first time. But otherwise, it's fine huh (smile).

Despite everything, do you manage to be at 100%? Not to be slowed down?

On the first contact, when I resumed, I was a little apprehensive. I had a bit of a headache. But it didn't last long. As a precaution, we decided to resume contact gradually. And as soon as I resumed normally, it was perfect. Today, there are no problems. I feel great.

Are you being monitored ?

Yes. Every month, I give my feelings to the staff who pass them on to the specialist. I will only see the specialist if there is another concussion.

To conclude, I have no apprehension, no more than another injury. In any case, it is when you do everything to avoid it that it ends up happening.

The risk is not to be taken lightly anyway…

Sure. Am I OK if my career ends today because of a shock?? Honestly, yes. Mind you, that's not what I want. But if I have to stop, it's not the worst thing in life. I'm proud and happy with everything I've done. I'll start the next chapter of my life.

You've often said that you didn't know what to do after rugby. Has it made you evolve??

I have to! But I'm not sure yet. Since I was 19, I've been trying to be smart with my money. I've been saving, making investments. But I'm not going to retire at 32 and be quiet. I'll have to choose a direction. Business? Coaching? I don't know. But when I stop, I'll take a big break. No one will talk to me about rugby for a while (smile).