- Jack Willis has extended his contract with French champions Toulouse
- Willis is currently unavailable for England but could feature in 2027 World Cup
England forward Jack Willis has extended his contract with French and European champions Toulouse, handing his country’s head coach Steve Borthwick a significant blow.
But there remains a chance the flanker – who is in the form of his life but currently unavailable to play international rugby – could still feature at the 2027 World Cup.
Willis confirmed on Monday that he had signed a new deal with Toulouse which is understood to be for the next four years. However, a break clause could yet enable the 28-year-old to sign for a Gallagher Premiership side for the 2027-28 season. That would make him available for the next global showpiece in Australia.
The RFU’s stringent and controversial selection policy means that to represent England at Test level, players must be employed by one of the 10 Premiership clubs.
It is understood Willis’ camp held exploratory talks with the RFU over a possible return to England and the potential for him to become a member of the country’s enhanced elite player squad, whose contracts are supported by the governing body. But the player was given no guarantees that moving back to the Premiership would definitely lead to international selection, despite his extraordinary form in the last 12 months. Willis moved to Toulouse after the demise of Wasps in 2022.
Initially, he was given special dispensation to carry on playing for England in 2023. But the last of his 14 Test caps to date came at that year’s World Cup.
Jack Willis has extended his contract with French and European champions Toulouse
The news regarding Willis represents a significant blow for England boss Steve Borthwick
While being away from England duty, Willis has played a central role in Toulouse’s success – winning two TOP14 titles and a Champions Cup.
He is undoubtedly one of the best players in Europe right now and is likely to be in strong consideration to tour Australia with the British & Irish Lions this summer.
Willis’ French status would not stop him playing for the Lions although if Toulouse reached the TOP14 end-of-season play-offs, it may well complicate his release for that tour.
‘It is a massive honour to have re-signed at Toulouse,’ Willis said.
‘I have made so many incredible memories on and off the field with this team in 2024 and I can’t wait for many more!
‘I feel so grateful for the welcome I have had here since day one from the supporters, staff and most of all the players and that made the decision to sign on for longer even easier.
‘I look forward to making more memories with this group and seeing what we can achieve in the years to come.’
Willis is part of a phenomenal Toulouse squad, one which contains French superstar and captain Antoine Dupont and a host of other Les Bleus internationals.
Willis is unavailable to play international rugby but could still feature at the 2027 World Cup
Willis had been of interest to Premiership side Bristol, but English club rugby’s monetary cutbacks mean he would have to take a significant wage reduction to leave France.
‘Rugby can give you amazing memories, but you also have to make sacrifices,’ Willis told earlier this year.
‘For me, England is one. It’s on my mind a lot. With the knee injury I had in 2021 and not playing as much as I’d have liked at the World Cup, it didn’t end how I wanted it to. There will always be a part of me that will want to go back into the England set-up and prove I can add more. That’s the real challenge and sacrifice of being here.
‘But you can’t have everything in life. I know I need to be in England to be considered. Equally, I love where I am now. Giving that up would be a sacrifice in itself.’
