Ashwin Willemse
Encyclopedia
Ashwin Willemse is a South Africa
n rugby union player. He plays at wing for the national team, the Springboks
. He was one of the outstanding performers during the 2003 season.
After winning an IRB Under-21 World Cup gold medal for South Africa
in 2002, the hard-working wing, set about gaining much needed Super 12 experience with the Cats (now called the Lions).
His pace, speed and power contributed to him being selected for his test debut against Scotland
and he did not look back. He was included in the South Africa 2003 Rugby World Cup
squad and scored a spectacular solo try against Samoa
.
Ashwin's achievements of 2003 are confirmed by the fact that he scooped the top three awards at the annual SA Rugby function - Player of the Year, Most Promising Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.
Willemse was badly injured for most of the last two to three seasons. However, he was selected for the Springbok
squad during the 2007 international season and Tri nations
, and was selected for the rugby world cup 2007 squad.
He has signed a two-year contract with Biarritz Olympique
and looks set to join a host of other top Boks set to continue their careers abroad after RWC 2007. http://www.rugby365.com/story/0,18881,3561_2494691,00.html
He retired from International rugby stating ""there are no controversial issues around my decision at all. I love the team, and the guys are exceptional. It was such a breath of fresh air being able to return to the Lions after some time overseas 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"
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n rugby union player. He plays at wing for the national team, the Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
. He was one of the outstanding performers during the 2003 season.
After winning an IRB Under-21 World Cup gold medal for South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 2002, the hard-working wing, set about gaining much needed Super 12 experience with the Cats (now called the Lions).
His pace, speed and power contributed to him being selected for his test debut against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
and he did not look back. He was included in the South Africa 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
squad and scored a spectacular solo try against Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
.
Ashwin's achievements of 2003 are confirmed by the fact that he scooped the top three awards at the annual SA Rugby function - Player of the Year, Most Promising Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.
Willemse was badly injured for most of the last two to three seasons. However, he was selected for the Springbok
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
squad during the 2007 international season and Tri nations
2007 Tri Nations Series
The 2007 Tri Nations Series was an annual rugby union competition between the national teams of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The series began in South Africa on 16 June, with a Test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands, Cape Town and ended on 21 July in Eden Park, Auckland...
, and was selected for the rugby world cup 2007 squad.
He has signed a two-year contract with Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
and looks set to join a host of other top Boks set to continue their careers abroad after RWC 2007. http://www.rugby365.com/story/0,18881,3561_2494691,00.html
He retired from International rugby stating ""there are no controversial issues around my decision at all. I love the team, and the guys are exceptional. It was such a breath of fresh air being able to return to the Lions after some time overseas 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"