Career
His regular position is flanker or lock. Youth and Varsity rugby Willemse played for the Blue Bulls U19 side during the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition, which saw the side progress to the final, where they lost to the Golden Lions U19. He moved to Durban in 2012 to join the Natal Sharks.
He made just three substitute appearances for the Sharks U21 side in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship competition, with an ankle injury curtailing his progress.
Willemse then made the move to Portuguese Elizabeth, where he joined Varsity Cup side NMMU Madibaz. He was a key player for the team during the 2013 and 2014, helping them reach the semi-finals of the competition on both occasions.
Eastern Province Kings At the conclusion of the 2013 Varsity Cup, Willemse was included in the Eastern Province Kings squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup, and made his first class debut against SWD Eagles. He scored his first try in his next match, a 27–23 victory over the Sharks XV After a third substitute appearance in the next match against the Boland Cavaliers – with Willemse once again scoring in a 27–23 victory – he started his first senior match in the European Parliament Kings" quarter final match against the Blue Bulls, scoring a try in his third consecutive match to help the European Parliament Kings to a dramatic 34–31 victory.
He made his second start in their 39–13 semi-final loss to the Pumas in Nelspruit.
He was retained for the senior side when the 2013 First Division season kicked off, making his first appearance in the opening fixture, when he started the match against the Pumas. He made two appearances for the Kings during the 2014 Vodacom Cup, as the Kings finished fifth in the Southern Section to miss out on a play-off spot. In June 2014, he was selected on the bench for the Eastern Province Kings side to face Wales during their 2014 tour of South Africa.
He came on just before the hour mark as the Kings suffered a 12–34 defeat.
He made his debut in the Premier Division of the during the 2014 season. He started their opening match of the season against Western Province in Portuguese Elizabeth and played in the first eight rounds of the competition before an Air Corps joint injury ruled him out of the last two rounds.
