Veteran Lions and Springbok wing Ashwin Willemse has unexpectedly announced his retirement from rugby in mid-season.
In a statement released on Monday the Golden Lions Rugby Union said it was with “a very heavy heart” that they are bidding farewell to Willemse.
Rugby 365 reports that Willemse, as a result of his retirement, will not be joining the Lions squad when they depart for their tour of Australasia later on Monday.
Jannie Boshoff will replace Willemse in the touring squad.
Willemse said in a statement that “there are no controversial issues” around his decision to call it a day.
He was recently linked to the controversial disciplinary hearing of forwards coach Leon Boshoff, who was cleared of having made racial slurs towards the non-white players in the team – like Willemse, Earl Rose and Lawrence Sephaka.
“I love the team, and the guys are exceptional,” Willemse said in a statement.
“It was such a breath of fresh air being able to return to the Lions after some time overseas [in France] last year, and it has been so exciting.
“I have been able to play the best rugby of my career with the Lions, and I will miss each and every one of my teammates. The time, however, has come for me to move onto the next phase of my life.”
GLRU CEO, Manie Reyneke, has echoed the team and staff’s sentiments, that this is very sad news for all who know and have had the pleasure to work with Willemse.
“Ashwin has made such a huge difference in the team and in his time here, and he will be sadly missed,” Reyneke said.
“We do appreciate the fact that he has taken the team dynamics into consideration, and I wish him all of the very best in his future endeavours.”
good decision. With all the respect to what he’s achieved I think he’s playing days are over.
I was expecting him to be in the Bok squad for the Lions tour.
Certainly one of the top 4 on display so far this year.
Nokwe and Chavangha have been nowehere this season.
What the %#$^???
That’s weird…in the middle of the season??
“We do appreciate the fact that he has taken the team dynamics into consideration, and I wish him all of the very best in his future endeavours.”
I thought the old dog was playing damned well so far.
@Claytie (Comment 8) :
Same here.
When I saw the article I thought he may have done himself an injury on the weekend and that was why he was retiring.
Hell – seems the Brumbies are not having a lekker toer…now there stuff has been scaled from there Hotel room…geez – some of these things makes me cringe!!What must they THINK of us??
@Prof. Ice (Comment 10) : What kinda hotel are they staying in?
@Claytie (Comment 11) :
Elangeni…
I wonder if some %^#$@#$ didnt have some untimely comments about Willemse’s knock on deep in his own half that gave all the momentum back to the Canes and their dominance from there on. They showed him after he was subbed and he was horsing around with Lawrence Sephaka and didnt look as if he had a bother in the world. Im clutching at straws here but I really cant think of any other reason if he’s not injured.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 10) : Great ad for the Soccer World Cup
@Prof. Ice (Comment 12) :
Inside job.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 10) :
@Claytie (Comment 11) :
@Prof. Ice (Comment 12) :
@Pokkel (Comment 14) :
@Salmonoid (Comment 15) :
:cough: :cough: :cough:
@Pokkel (Comment 14) :
my thoughts exactly..
@Salmonoid (Comment 15) :
Must be…no forced entry etc…hello by the way..
@Prof. Ice (Comment 17) :
Me and my manners – very bad when it comes to greating the blog. Hello all.
Ps – somebody please pass KSA the Benylin.
@Salmonoid (Comment 18) :
Please make sure there is alcohol in any cough mixture you give me?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) :
i presume this is a subtle ‘warning”…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) :
Of course, Is there any other reason why anyone would drink the stuff?
@Prof. Ice (Comment 20) :
I thought he was having an on line medical examination.
@Salmonoid (Comment 18) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) :
@Salmonoid (Comment 22) :
i am a PROFESSOR – not a DOCTOR…;-)
@Prof. Ice (Comment 24) :
Pity.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 20) :
I don’t warn, I “manage”, I am a referee afterall
Goddard would have carded you though.
This are weird.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) :
i see it would have been a case of 2 yellows = red..
I reckon the truth will be revealed soon.
Let’s wait for tomorrow’s issue of ‘Die Son’
Headline: Die N@@$#%S het vir Ashy GEFIRE!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) :
have we been watching the same games 
@Prof. Ice (Comment 10) : I think they’ve been so many times to SA that they must consider it accident
If he respects his fellow Players so much why is he dumping them in the middle of the season, this does not make any sence to me, something is Fishy!!
sense
I hope Jannie Boshoff has a cracker on tour. OK I’m biased he’s from my hometown.
Maybe Walter knows the story behind the story…
Regarding some sensationalism – I am waiting for a thread about Cheeky allegedly calling PdV a baboon – or is it too political.
@rekinek (Comment 36) : It’s a waste of a web page writing writing about Cheeky
@Pokkel (Comment 37) : I guess so – but still everybody is writing.
I’ve just sat down and took stock of the weekend – SHARKS won!!!!!, LMS – still alive, FL – climbing up the log. SB – climbing up as well (though truthfully could not be much lower
Others – Poles lost in soccer, Kubica – crashed. I better stick to rugby
Cheers for now
@rekinek (Comment 36) :
Too political. In fact that’s just a load of hogwash!!!
Real tragedy this. Reminds me of the injury-curtailed careers of Bobby Skinstad or Andre Snyman.
Ash was a player with the heart of a Lion, and looked really sharp – should have been in the top 4 wings for the Boks this season.
I wonder what happened here? All the best boyo.
If we were waiting for tomorrow yesterday, then today is it. Whats the story behind the sudden retirement?
Maybe its like when you suddenly develope a fear of heights for no apparent reason after years of jumping off roofs
@Rahul (Comment 43) :
Howzit boet??
I think there is definitely something fishy going on here…
@Rahul (Comment 42) :
In two days from now, tomorrow will be Yesterday.
AN ASHWIN ODDITY: No, not the suspicious circumstances of his sudden retirement, but an amazing stat revealed by SA Rugby’s man of numbers, Eddie Grieb. In his entire career Ashwin played not a single game of Currie Cup rugby. There were 19 tests, one non-test appearance, 31 caps for the Cats and the Lions in Super Rugby and 14 outings for Boland and the Golden Lions and Boland in the Vodacom Cup but never a Currie Cup game. The SuperWrap wishes Ashwin well in life after rugby and that he will continue to be an inspirational figure.
@Charlie (Comment 46) :
unbelievable.
@Salmonoid (Comment 47) : that is amazing
@Salmonoid (Comment 47) :