France lock Paul Willemse cops another ban after red card with suspension postponed
Another suspension for the France lock.
France and Montpellier lock Paul Willemse has copped a second ban of the year following his red card against Ulster in the Challenge Cup.
Willemse became the second player in Six Nations history to be sent off twice earlier this year when he received two yellow cards in the defeat to Ireland in the opening game. The 31-year-old was also red-carded back in 2021 against Wales.
The disciplinary panel found that his two yellow cards against Ireland were worthy of bans and handed him four-week and three-week suspensions for the offences, which ran concurrently.
Willemse played just three games for Montpellier before receiving his second red card of the year in his fourth match.
Latest Paul Willemse red card
The South African-born second-rower was sent off by referee Ben Whitehouse in the 41st minute of the Challenge Cup round of 16 clash for tackling Ulster full-back Will Addison in a dangerous manner, contravening Law 9.13.
At the time of Willemse’s sending-off, Montpellier were 17-7 ahead, with Ulster going on to score 33 unanswered points to secure a 40-17 win.
Law 9.13 states: “A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 carries the following sanction entry points: Low end: two weeks; mid-range: six weeks; top end: 10 to 52 weeks.
An independent Disciplinary Committee upheld the decision to red card Willemse, finding him guilty of tackling Addison in a dangerous and reckless manner.
Montpellier lock Paul Willemse banned for 5 weeks for this hit against Ulster.
Willemse accepted the red card decision.
Mid-range entry of 6 weeks but “taking into account the player’s guilty plea, the committee decided to reduce the sanction by one week.” pic.twitter.com/FVixUW8Fh7
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) April 11, 2024
WATCH: Every red card in the history of the Six Nations
Five-week suspension
It was deemed that Willemse’s tackle was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions, and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
Having already completed the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Program, Willemse could not reduce his sanction by a week due to his poor disciplinary reduction, so the panel only reduced the sanction by one week before imposing a five-week suspension.
The matches that Willemse will miss are yet to be confirmed due to the lock sustaining an injury.
The EPCR statement confirmed: “As Willemse is currently unavailable to play due to injury, the precise dates of his period of suspension will be communicated as soon as practicable. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.”
Quiz: Can you name the star-studded Toulon team that won the Champions Cup in 2013?
