'Multiple concussions' forces France lock Willemse to retire / Photo: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT - AFP/File
-
Real Madrid fan group wants Mbappe apology over Ceuta shirt snub
-
Germany urges EU action against China to defend carmakers
-
Nepal floods among 'most challenging' disasters: WFP
-
Stocks mostly rise after US Fed rate hike, oil eases
-
Doubts as Italy eyes electric future for steel plant
-
Palestinians turn rugged caves into homes after Israeli demolitions
-
'One of the kindest people': Taraneh, 21, facing execution in Iran
-
Two unseen Monet paintings to be sold in Paris: auction house
-
Japan eyes changing prostitution law to punish sex buyers
-
Klopp wants German team to help reclaim national pride from far-right
-
After record rain, typhoon threatens new challenge to Asian Games
-
Ninth woman found dead in South Africa killing spree
-
Kids and social media: what would change under new EU law
-
Smog scuppers Japan force helping fight Indonesia wildfires
-
Modi pitches India as global chipmaking hub
-
King Charles to call on tech giants for 'reassurances' over AI
-
Ukraine plans record defence spending in 2027
-
Lebanon security talks in Paris focus on replacing UN mission
-
Klopp calls up 44 players in huge first Germany squad
-
Most stocks rise as Fed hikes and oil prices drop
-
STARPRIME Responds to Diverging Gold Market Demand with AM/PM Fixing and XAU24/7
-
'Vande Mataram': Why is India's freedom song in spotlight?
-
Ukrainian fashion designer debuts art between air raids
-
Counterculture pop artist Peter Max dies at 88: US media
-
Gambian businesses struggle under prolonged blackouts
-
Asian Games chief defends 'functional' rooms after backlash
-
Fiji declares national HIV crisis
-
Leader's sister says only 'idiots' think N. Korea to give up nukes
-
Australia to cut migration to fix housing crisis: minister
-
World's water cycle becoming more unpredictable, UN warns
-
NASA scan discovers new, 'once in a century' Moon crater
-
Where the US-China tariff row stands ahead of White House summit
-
Most stocks rise as Fed hikes and indicates drive to curb inflation
-
Croc-habitat gets green light for 2032 Olympic rowing
-
US again denies Palestinian leader Abbas visa to attend UN assembly
-
Indonesia cash-for-photos scheme turns animal hunters into protectors
-
Lula says he will go to UN to tell Trump to 'stay out' of Brazil's elections
-
'Left-field' life: Briton becomes Thailand's top foreign monk
-
Messi heads Inter Miami to Campeones Cup triumph
-
India's transgender amendment leaves many in limbo
-
AI looms large ahead of Xi, Trump summit
-
Trump to host Xi amid pomp, low expectations
-
Smith still haunted by 'Sandpapergate' as he prepares for South Africa Tests
-
Harry set for UK public outings with security, royal status hazy
-
UK-Sudanese author pens book to give children 'African history of Africa'
-
NFL Chiefs' Kelce among investors bilked in Ponzi scheme
-
Boehly and Walter sell Chelsea stake to Clearlake Capital
-
Electric Royalties Reports Permitting Progress and New Exploration Results Across Critical Metals Royalty Portfolio
-
UniDoc Health Equips San Juan, Puerto Rico Ambulances With Live Patient Video
-
Marijuana Rescheduling's Glaring Contradiction: What Is DEA Supposed to Do?
'Multiple concussions' forces France lock Willemse to retire
France lock Paul Willemse said on Monday he is retiring after suffering multiple concussion, aged 32.
South Africa-born Willemse made the last of his 32 Les Bleus appearances in February 2024.
The 2022 Six Nations winner had not played for his adopted country or club Montpellier since October last year due to successive head injuries.
"Choosing to stop after multiple concussions has been the hardest decision I've ever made," Willemse said on Instagram.
"For a long time, I tried to hold on, because when you've lived one dream, it's frightening to imagine life beyond it.
"But I've come to accept it, and even find comfort.
"One dream ends, but the man it shaped remains," the 2022 French Top 14 winner added.
Willemse, a World Rugby under-20s championship winner in 2012, joins a long line of rugby players to retire due to the problem, including fellow former France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina, ex-New Zealand full-back Leon MacDonald and 56-time South Africa fly-half Pat Lambie.
The sport's governing body is the subject of a legal case by around 300 players, who have accused World Rugby as well as the English and Welsh national unions, of not sufficiently protecting them against concussion.
Last month, former Maori All Blacks back-rower Shane Christie died aged just 39 having said he wanted his brain to be studied after suffering from the effects of multiple concussions.
P.Stevenson--AMWN