International second row Paul Willemse, suspended after his exclusion from the French team, will make his return to the Montpellier team on Saturday in Oyonnax, during the 17th day of Top 14.
Willemse (31 years old, 32 caps) received a four-week suspension after his exclusion during the severe defeat (38-17) against Ireland in the opening match of the 2024 Six Nations Tournament in Marseille. The solid second row of the MHR (130 kg, 2.01 m) was recalled by coach Fabien Galthié following the injury of Toulouse’s Emmanuel Meafou, but did not appear in the initial list of 34 names revealed mid- January.
Willemse has been regularly called upon by Galthié since the start of his tenure in 2020 before a cascade of injuries deprived him of the last World Cup in France. Montpellier, author of a bad start to the season, occupies 13th place in the Top 14 before its trip to Oyonnax on Saturday, promoted and bottom of the table.