Six Nations Tournament: four weeks suspension for Paul Willemse, excluded against Ireland

Sans surprise, Paul Willemse a été suspendu quatre semaines. MAXPPP – Andrew Matthews

Le Montpelliérain sera requalifié à partir du 2 mars. Il peut réduire cette sanction d'une semaine à condition de suivre le programme de suivi de World Rugby.

The second line of the French XV Paul Willemse, excluded against Ireland, has been suspended for four weeks, the disciplinary committee of the Six Nations Tournament said on Tuesday. Willemse (31 years old, 32 caps) first collected a yellow card (9th) for clearing the face of pillar Andrew Porter after nine minutes of play. Rebelote with a new uncontrolled tackle, this time shoulder against the head, on the third row Caelan Doris (32nd), synonymous with a red card.

Also read: VIDEO. France-Ireland: the gesture too many for Paul Willemse with the Blues ? "We can't blame a player"

'The commission recognized that while both actions were reckless, there was no evidence to suggest the player acted maliciously or intentionally in either ;other case. The commission also noted that the player had behaved admirably during the proceedings and that he had shown remorse for his actions, justified the Six Nations.

Absent at Racing

The Montpellier will be requalified from March 2. He can reduce this sanction by one week provided he follows the World Rugby monitoring program. The second row will already miss the Blues' next match against Scotland, on February 10, then that of MHR in Top 14, against Racing 92 (February 17).

He will be absent again the following weekend, whether with the French team against Italy (February 25) or with Montpellier against Bayonne (February 24) . This suspension poses a real headache for coach Fabien Galthié who already has to cope in the cage without Toulouse's Thibaud Flament (foot) and Emmanuel Meafou (knee) or Lyon's Romain Taofifenua (leg). A week after their rout against Ireland (38-17), the Blues will try to find some color in Edinburgh, where they remain on a 25-21 setback, in a preparation match for the 2023 World Cup.