Mike Willemse

Michael Evan Willemse (born 14 February 1993) is a South African rugby union player for Ealing Trailfinders in Championship Rugby.^[1] His regular position is hooker.

Mike Willemse

Full name	Michael Evan Willemse
Date of birth	(1993-02-14) 14 February 1993 (age 32)
Place of birth	Cape Town, South Africa
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	104 kg (229 lb; 16 st 5 lb)
School	Grey High School, Port Elizabeth
University	University of Cape Town
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker Current team Southern Kings Youth career 2010–2011 Eastern Province Kings Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2013 UCT Ikey Tigers 6 (15) Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2013–2016 Western Province 36 (20) 2014–2016 Stormers 4 (0) 2016–2017 Eastern Province Kings 6 (10) 2017–2019 Southern Kings 42 (40) 2017 Golden Lions 5 (0) 2019–2021 Edinburgh 40 (30) 2021– London Irish 15 (10) Correct as of 31 May 2022 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2013 South Africa Under-20 5 (10) Correct as of 17 April 2018

Career

Youth and Varsity Rugby

Willemse was included in the Eastern Province Kings squad at the 2010 Under-18 Academy Week and also played for the Eastern Province U19 team in the Under-19 Provincial Championship competition in the same year. In 2011, he also represented them at the Craven Week competition.

In 2013, he played Varsity Cup rugby with the UCT Ikey Tigers, scoring three tries in six starts.

Western Province / Stormers

He was called up to the Western Province Vodacom Cup squad at the conclusion of the Varsity Cup competition and made his first class debut on 13 April 2013 against Argentina side Pampas XV^[2] and made four appearances in the competition.

He made his Currie Cup debut a few months later when he came off the substitutes' bench for their match against Sharks following Tiaan Liebenberg's late withdrawal through injury.^[3][4]

In 2014, he was called up into the Stormers squad for their 2014 Super Rugby match against the Sharks, following Deon Fourie's late withdrawal through injury.^[5]

UK

On 25 March 2019, Willemse traveled to Scotland to sign for Edinburgh in the Pro14 on a two-year deal from the 2019-20 season.^[6] Following his release from Edinburgh, he signed for English club London Irish in the Premiership Rugby from the 2021-22 season.^[7]

Representative rugby

In 2013, he was included in the South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship. He made three substitute appearance – against the USA (scoring two tries),^[8] England,^[9] and France.^[10]