The crisis in English rugby has logically benefited French clubs. After the Wasps, a historic Premiership club (six national titles and two European Cups), were placed in receivership, the team’s best players left Coventry – where the club had moved in 2014 – to join more lenient. Twelve of them crossed the Channel to join Top 14 or Pro D2 clubs. Among them, Brad Shields joined Perpignan, Biyi Alo joined Racing 92, Dan Robson joined Section Paloise, while Gabriel Oghre and Tom Willis signed for Bordeaux-Bègles.
Toulouse, for its part, jumped at the chance to enlist the latter’s brother, third-line Jack Willis, until the end of the season as an additional player. A damn good pickaxe. The international flanker with now 11 selections immediately acclimatized to his new environment, a new game and new teammates. Before playing Saturday (9 p.m.), the final of the Top 14, he has already played 16 matches (9 as a starter) with the Rouge et Noir, which he joined at the end of November. His big slaughter and his overflowing activity have made him an essential cog in the Haut-Garonne club this season.
Even more in the absence of Anthony Jelonch, seriously injured during the last Six Nations Tournament. Two players with a similar profile, real “ratters” in the ground game, always with their noses stuck in the rucks. While many of his compatriots will return to England next season, the solid Willis (1.86 m for 107 kg), aged only 26, convinced the Toulouse leaders so much that they finally decided to extend him three seasons, two of which are optional.
“I loved the last six months at Stade Toulousain and I am very happy and grateful to extend my contract here, he confided, in the language of Molière, in a video posted on social networks. I love being part of such an ambitious and hard-working group”. And the native of Reading – where he made his rugby debut – to compare, in La Dépêche du Midi, the English and French championships: “I think the biggest difference is certainly the physical impact. There are a lot of very strong players here. And these players can play in different rugby styles: a very physical forward game but also a liveliness and a lot of speed to play wide, it’s quite fast in the Top 14. There is a lot of contrast in the way of play French clubs.
Leading performances that caused a stir across the Channel. This is confirmed by Charles Richardson, an English journalist at the Telegraph who particularly follows the Top 14: “It’s huge! It is indicative of his class that he managed to fit into one of the finest rugby teams in the world and immediately become a starter. I watched several of his matches this season with Stade Toulousain and each time he stood out.
During the last Tournament, the flanker also asserted himself as one of the best elements of an inconstant XV de la Rose. “Everyone here talks about him as one of the best English players selected by Steve Borthwick for the World Cup, continues Charles Richardson. When he played for Wasps, he was always their engine, their heartbeat. And, during the last Six Nations, a mediocre edition for England, Willis was again a spearhead of the team. In fact, it would be unthinkable for Willis not to be in the squad for the World Cup, unless he gets injured. He should logically be a starter in the third line.
Jack Willis was not retained in the first group to prepare for the World Cup because he was participating in the final stages with his French team. But he should logically be retained in the English squad for the World Cup. The whole thing is to know what will happen for the rest of his international career. The new Rose coach, Steve Borthwick, is campaigning for players playing abroad to still be eligible for selection. Given the deplorable economic health of English rugby, it would be beneficial. Unless you want to voluntarily deprive yourself of your best elements.
