{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Mike Willemse | image = | fullname = Michael Evan Willemse | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|02|14|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]] | height = {{height|m=1.85}} | weight = {{cvt|104|kg|lb stlb}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = [[Grey High School]], [[Port Elizabeth]] | university = [[University of Cape Town]] | relatives = | position = [[Hooker (rugby union)|Hooker]] | currentclub = {{Rut|Southern Kings}} | youthyears1 = 2010–2011 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} | years1 = 2013–2016 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Western Province}} | apps1 = 36 | points1 = 20 | years2 = 2014–2016 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Stormers}} | apps2 = 4 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2016–2017 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} | apps3 = 6 | points3 = 10 | years4 = 2017–2019 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Southern Kings}} | apps4 = 42 | points4 = 40 | years5 = 2017 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}} | apps5 = 5 | points5 = 0 | years6 = 2019–2021 | clubs6 = {{Rut|Edinburgh}} | apps6 = 40 | points6 = 30 | years7 = 2021– | clubs7 = {{Rut|London Irish}} | apps7 = 15 | points7 = 10 | amatyears1 = 2013 | amatteam1 = {{Rut|UCT Ikey Tigers}} | amatapps1 = 6 | amatpoints1 = 15 | repyears1 = 2013 | repteam1 = [[South Africa national under-20 rugby union team|South Africa Under-20]] | repcaps1 = 5 | reppoints1 = 10 | clubupdate = 31 May 2022 | repupdate = 17 April 2018 }}

'''Michael Evan Willemse''' (born 14 February 1993) is a South African [[rugby union]] player for {{Rut|Ealing Trailfinders}} in [[Championship Rugby]].<ref name="SARU Player Profile Mike Willemse">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=51545 | name=Mike Willemse | date=29 May 2016}}</ref> His regular position is hooker.

==Career==

===Youth and Varsity Rugby=== Willemse was included in the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} squad at the 2010 Under-18 Academy Week and also played for the {{Rut|Eastern Province U19}} team in the Under-19 Provincial Championship competition in the same year. In 2011, he also represented them at the [[Craven Week]] competition.

In [[2013 Varsity Cup|2013]], he played [[Varsity Cup]] rugby with the {{Rut|UCT Ikey Tigers}}, scoring three tries in six starts.

===Western Province / Stormers=== He was called up to the {{Rut|Western Province}} [[Vodacom Cup]] squad at the conclusion of the Varsity Cup competition and made his first class debut on 13 April 2013 against [[Argentina]] side {{Rut|Pampas XV}}<ref name="ICBC Pampas XV 17-28 DHL Western Province">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=104164 | homeid=11694 | awayid=11624 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=ICBC Pampas XV | homescore=17 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=DHL Western Province | matchdate=13 April 2013 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref> and made four appearances in the competition.

He made his [[Currie Cup]] debut a few months later when he came off the substitutes' bench for their match against {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} following [[Tiaan Liebenberg]]'s late withdrawal through injury.<ref name="Late hooker change for DHL WP">{{cite web | url=http://wprugby.com/late-change-for-dhl-western-province/ | title=Late hooker change for DHL WP | publisher=Western Province | date=6 September 2013 | access-date=24 September 2013}}</ref><ref name="DHL Western Province 25-19 The Sharks">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=107074 | homeid=12614 | awayid=12644 | leagueid=1294 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=25 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=The Sharks | matchdate=7 September 2013 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref>

In 2014, he was called up into the {{Rut|Stormers}} squad for their [[2014 Super Rugby season|2014 Super Rugby]] match against the {{Rut|Sharks}}, following [[Deon Fourie]]'s late withdrawal through injury.<ref name="Late Fourie blow for DHL Stormers">{{cite press release | url=http://thestormers.com/late-fourie-blow-for-dhl-stormers | title=Late Fourie blow for DHL Stormers | publisher=Stormers | date=30 May 2014 | access-date=30 May 2014}}</ref>

===UK=== On 25 March 2019, Willemse traveled to Scotland to sign for [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] in the [[Pro14]] on a two-year deal from the 2019-20 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://kingsrugby.co.za/2019/03/25/edinburgh-confirm-michael-willemse-signing/|work=Kings Rugby.co.za|title=EDINBURGH CONFIRM MICHAEL WILLEMSE SIGNING|date=25 March 2019|accessdate=20 April 2021}}</ref> Following his release from Edinburgh, he signed for English club [[London Irish]] in the [[Premiership Rugby]] from the 2021-22 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56818840|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Mike Willemse: London Irish sign Edinburgh hooker for the 2021-22 season|date=20 April 2021|accessdate=20 April 2021}}</ref>

===Representative rugby=== In 2013, he was included in the [[South Africa national under-20 rugby union team|South Africa Under-20]] squad for the [[2013 IRB Junior World Championship]]. He made three substitute appearance – against the [[United States national under-20 rugby union team|USA]] (scoring two tries),<ref name="Match Details: South Africa v USA">{{cite web | url=http://www.irb.com/jwc/matches/match=13935/index.html | title=Match Details: South Africa v USA | publisher=International Rugby Board | date=5 June 2013 | access-date=24 September 2013}}</ref> [[England national under-20 rugby union team|England]],<ref name="Match Details: South Africa v England">{{cite web | url=http://www.irb.com/jwc/matches/match=13941/index.html | title=Match Details: South Africa v England | publisher=International Rugby Board | date=9 June 2013 | access-date=24 September 2013}}</ref> and [[France national under-20 rugby union team|France]].<ref name="Match Details: France v South Africa">{{cite web | url=http://www.irb.com/jwc/matches/match=13950/index.html | title=Match Details: France v South Africa | publisher=International Rugby Board | date=13 June 2013 | access-date=24 September 2013}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Willemse, Mike}} [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1993 births]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Cape Town]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Rugby union hookers]] [[Category:South Africa Under-20 international rugby union players]] [[Category:Southern Kings players]] [[Category:Eastern Province Elephants players]] [[Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players]] [[Category:Edinburgh Rugby players]] [[Category:London Irish players]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England]] [[Category:Alumni of Grey High School]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]] [[Category:Ikey Tigers players]]