Ashwin Willemse to return as TV pundit, 6 years after dramatic walk-off from SuperSport set

Former Springbok winger Ashwin Willemse is set to return to television as a rugby pundit six years after he walked off a SuperSport set. 

It was announced in a statement this week that Willemse, 42, will feature on eExtra's new show, BÔll & Ôll. The programme will air on Sundays at 18:30 on Openview eExtra, with a rebroadcast on Saturdays on e.tv.

Willemse and sports producer, JP Keyter, will anchor the show which will mainly focus on local rugby. Wilbur Kraak, a professor from the University of the Western Cape, will also feature on the show.

This will be the first time Willemse appears as a rugby pundit since 2018 when he walked off the SuperSport set during a live discussion after a Super Rugby match. He accused fellow pundits Nick Mallett and Naas Botha of racism.

A subsequent independent investigation cleared Mallett and Botha of any wrongdoing.

Willemse, though, was adamant that he had a case and brought the matter before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). In 2019, the SAHRC confirmed it was investigating the matter but no ground was made and the investigation was closed last year.

Wisani Baloyi, the SAHRC's acting communications coordinator, told News24 in June 2023 that the investigation had been closed because of Willemse's failure to respond to questions.

NEW SHOW:

BÔll & Ôll is a new weekly rugby talk show focusing on the pulse of South-African rugby, namely, the community. The show will put the emphasis on the Club, the Player, the Game, and the Community.

Hosted by radio and TV presenter JP Keyter and rugby legend Ashwin… pic.twitter.com/aqEAXXTitZ

Willemse played 19 Tests for the Springboks between 2003 and 2007.