Champions Cup: Montpellier lock Paul Willemse suffers season ending injury

David Skippers

Montpellier’s preparations for Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final against La Rochelle hit a snag with the news that star lock Paul Willemse will miss the match due to injury.

Willemse, who was one of France’s star performers during their Grand Slam-winning Six Nations campaign, sustained a knee injury during Montpellier’s Top 14 defeat to Lyon at the weekend and is set to spend two months on the sidelines.

“He is suffering from a tear of the medial lateral ligament in the knee,” Montpellier said via a press statement on their official website.

Serious injury

“We estimate his unavailability to be eight weeks.

“He will finish the season with the medical service and will stay with the squad to support his teammates on the home stretch.”

The 29-year-old has represented Montpellier in three Champions Cup matches this season and scored a try for the club when they sealed a 37-26 win against Exeter Chiefs in a Pool A fixture in January.

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