FILE - France’s Paul Willemse is tackled by New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock and Ardie Savea during the international rugby union match between France and the All Blacks, at the Stade de France, in Saint Denis, north of Paris, Nov. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Former France forward Paul Willemse retires from rugby after multiple concussions
PARIS (AP) 鈥 Former France forward Paul Willemse announced his retirement from rugby on Monday after sustaining multiple concussions during his career.
FILE - France’s Paul Willemse is tackled by New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock and Ardie Savea during the international rugby union match between France and the All Blacks, at the Stade de France, in Saint Denis, north of Paris, Nov. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
PARIS (AP) 鈥 Former France forward Paul Willemse announced his retirement from rugby on Monday after sustaining multiple concussions during his career.
The South Africa-born lock has not played since October last year, when he was taken off for a concussion when playing for club side Montpellier. Willemse said he had been concussed six times in his career.
鈥淎fter many years on the field, it is time to close this chapter,鈥 . 鈥淐hoosing to stop after multiple concussions has been the hardest decision I鈥檝e ever made. For a long time, I tried to hold on, because when you鈥檝e lived one dream, it鈥檚 frightening to imagine life beyond it.鈥
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He played in for France and scored two tries as a tough-tackling and rampaging forward, who also had a strong running game and could break tackles. He became a regular under coach Fabien Galthi茅 and helped France win the with a Grand Slam.
Willemse’s last appearance for Les Tricolores saw him in the opening game of the 2024 Six Nations and suspended the next two games following a four-week ban.
He would have earned more caps but missed the 2023 Rugby World Cup because of .
After starting his club career in South Africa with Golden Lions and Blue Bulls, he moved to France in 2014 and played for Grenoble before joining Montpellier the following year, making over 170 appearances for the club.
鈥淭o the supporters who have followed me from South Africa to France, I carry your voices with me,鈥 he added. 鈥淭he victories, the struggles, the lessons, I wouldn’t change any of it.鈥
Concussions in rugby have become a major talking point in recent years. Former France rugby star S茅bastien Chabal said last April that he could not remember 鈥 鈥 of any match he played. ___
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