Emergency surgery for Kings hooker
This is the result of an emergency operation he underwent on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old was rushed to hospital in George late on Tuesday for an emergency operation to have his appendix removed.
Kings team doctor Konrad von Hagen confirmed that the operation was successful and that Willemse will be out of action for up to six weeks.
"We will monitor his recovery closely," Von Hagen said.
"He is likely to miss our next three matches – as the period of recuperation from such a procedure can be up to six weeks."
Willemse will return to Port Elizabeth, where he will recover.
The Kings host the Sharks (May 13) and Brumbies (May 20) in Port Elizabeth, then face the Lions (May 28) in Johannesburg – before the June international break.
They face the Jaguares (June 30) in Buenos Aires), Bulls (July 8) in Pretoria and Cheetahs (July 14) in Port Elizabeth in their last three matches of the season.
The hooker joins an injury list that includes prop Justin Forwood, who has been ruled out for nine months with a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), lock Cameron Lindsay (knee), prop Schalk Ferreira (biceps), scrumhalf Rudi van Rooyen (ankle) and wing-cum-fullback Malcolm Jaer (knee).
