MHR: why Paul Willemse should not wear the Montpellier jersey for the next four months ?

Paul Willemse a joué son dernier match en Top 14 contre le Stade Français le 30 mars dernier. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Sanctionné d’un carton rouge contre l’Ulster le 7 avril dernier, Paul Willemse n’est plus apparu sous le maillot montpelliérain depuis.

Paul Willemseshould no longer wear the MHR jersey before next October. The international second row (31 years old, 32 caps) was suspended for five weeks at the beginning of April after his red card received against Ulster in the round of 16 of the Challenge. His fault: a dangerous tackle on the opposing back. This is his second expulsion in two months, after seeing red with the Blues against Ireland at the beginning of February.

Frozen Suspension

Except that this suspension has not yet started for Willemse. Seriously hit in the ear in his dangerous tackle, the Pretoria native saw his suspension frozen until he was put back on his feet. And it is once a doctor declares him fit that he will be able to serve his five weeks of suspension.

A priori, Willemse will not have recovered from his injury until the very end of the season. It is therefore from the next financial year that he will begin serving his sentence. It is therefore possible that the Montpellier colossus will only resume with the MHR in October, for the Top 14 (or the Pro D2?) 2024/2025.