Province recall Willemse from Kings
Willemse, who had been appointed EP Kings vice-captain, had been on loan to the Port Elizabeth side until the end of the season.
He will provide much-needed cover at hooker for Province after Ntubeni tore his achilles tendon against the Sharks at the weekend and was subsequently ruled out of action for six to nine months.
EP Kings head coach Barend Pieterse thanked Willemse for his efforts and contribution to the Kings and wished him well for the remainder of the season.
Pieterse added that the Kings had excellent resources in the No.2 jersey with Martin Bezuidenhout, Warwick Venter and Cullen Collopy all available for selection.
Meanwhile, Western Province head coach John Dobson said Ntubeni's Springbok aspirations took a big blow with this new injury setback.
"It is one of the worst injuries I have come across – not in terms of what the actual injury is, but in terms of what it means to Skara [Ntubeni]," said Dobson.
"He has a had a really rough time with injury. He has seen Bongi [Mbongeni Mbonambi] leapfrog him in Super Rugby.
"He came to us last week and said he was reorganising some things in his life because he realised he had a big opportunity in rugby. He wants to be a Springbok and he did not want to finish his career folding his blazer over his shoulder."
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