JACK Willis has retained his award as the best player in France, becoming only the second player to do so after France captain Antoine Dupont.
On receiving the award the Toulouse flanker, who last played for England at the 2023 World Cup, jokingly challenged reporters to find him a way back into Test rugby.
Willis, 29, moved to Toulouse in November 2022 after Wasps went out of business. He was initially given dispensation to continue playing for England given the exceptional circumstances. He won the last of his 14 caps in a pool-stage hammering of Chile, but, having extended his deal at Toulouse until 2029, has not been eligible for England since.
Willis was player of the match in June’s Top 14 final win over Montpellier as he added a fourth French title to the Champions Cup crown he lifted in 2024.
“You know what you sacrifice,” Willis said of his Test career. “It’s something I still want to do, but rules are rules.”
Willis, whose grandfather was born in Ulster, is now available for selection by Ireland as three years have passed since he played for England.
“I’m a quarter Irish, but they have the same rules as England,” said Willis. “You need to do some digging, that’s your job, you find the way [around the rules]!”
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