Jack Willis, the Toulouse back-row forward, could be set to switch his international allegiance from England to Ireland. According to Telegraph Sport, the former England player is open to representing Ireland, for whom he qualifies through one of his grandparents.
Career and Current Status
Willis is regarded as one of the best openside flankers in European rugby and has been a key figure for Toulouse, helping the French club secure four consecutive Top 14 titles. The former Wasps player is not currently eligible to represent England, which only selects players based in the Gallagher Premiership.
Willis won the last of his 14 England caps against Chile at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He is now nearing the end of the three-year stand-down period that would make him eligible to switch allegiance to Ireland within weeks.
Eligibility and Contract Hurdles
The challenge for Willis is that Ireland have eligibility rules as strict as England's, and he is also in the middle of a long-term contract with Toulouse. However, according to Telegraph Sport, he would be eligible to represent Ireland at next year's Rugby World Cup in Australia if he signs a one-year loan deal with one of the four Irish provinces.
Willis told Telegraph Sport: "I'm a quarter Irish. But they have the same rules as England." He jokingly challenged reporters: "You need to do some digging, that's your job, you find the way [around the rules]."
He added: "When you make a decision, you have to take responsibility for it, you know what you sacrifice. It's something I still want to do, but rules are rules."
