Ex-England star addresses speculation about Ireland switch and international future
Jack Willis is one of the most sought-after talents in rugby at present due to his fine performances across the past few years for Toulouse.
The former England international took the decision to turn his back on international duty in 2022 when he opted to move to the south of France to play with Toulouse.
At 29 years old and with three years left on his contract with the French giants, time is running out to add to his 14 England caps, with his last appearance coming in the 2023 World Cup.
Fans of the 2003 World Cup winners would love to have Willis as part of the international setup, but they are well aware of the rules around selection for the England team, with Steve Borthwick only being able to select players from those competing in the English pyramid.
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Speaking on For the Love of Rugby, Willis said: “There will always be part of me that will look back thinking I had more in me from an international point of view. I don’t regret my decision to stay here.
“The way it came about, I didn’t choose to leave England, but I chose to stay. I love it, and I chose to stay. That’s the first thing; I don’t regret that.
“As an athlete, as a competitor, I don’t think I showed the best version of Jack Willis in an England shirt, and there are reasons for that I look at… I could have done better. The way the World Cup unfolded in 2023, I didn’t have many involvements.
“But I have grown as a person and as a player; I think I could offer more now, but I also fully accept that when I re-signed this longer-term contract, I understood what came with that from an international perspective, and you have got to make peace with that, why you are not getting in at that moment.
“There will always be part of me that thinks there was a bit more to give, but I also don’t regret the decision. This club is an incredible place to play at, and the rules – you sort of have to make peace with that.
“I am a competitor, and you always want to be playing on the biggest stage, and international rugby is the biggest stage, but there is boys and mates I have playing with that team, and I will always support them.”
While there will be a disappointment with how his England career has panned out thus far, rumours started to circulate that there was a possibility of Willis representing Ireland.
Willis’ grandfather is Irish, and after three years it would have been possible for him to represent the 2024 Six Nations champions, with rumours suggesting the IRFU may have been in contact with him.
However, the 29-year-old has addressed these rumours, as he said: “My granddad is fully Irish, but you know, if it involves moving, then that sort of puts me in the same situation as it would for England; it’s the same rule.
“So yeah, there are always different things you can think about, but you would knacker yourself out if you were always thinking about changing or moving and going here and there. Sometimes you have to accept your reality, and I feel like my reality is pretty good. I am pretty grateful for being part of this club.”
Willis appears comfortable in Toulouse, and his brother Tom has made the decision to return to the European continent and the Top 14 to join Bordeaux Begles.
His contract is set to expire in 2029, and it is expected that he will at least fulfil this deal, meaning there is no chance he will be representing either Ireland or England unless they opt to change their selection policies.
Topics: Rugby, Rugby Union
Brendan McGilligan