Jack Willis signs Toulouse deal – but door is open for place in England World Cup squad

England flanker Jack Willis has signed a four-year deal with Toulouse, but the door is not completely shut on his participation at the 2027 World Cup.

Under Rugby Football Union regulations, England will not select any overseas-based players for the World Cup. However, Telegraph Sport understands there is a break clause which would enable Willis to sign for a Premiership club for the 2027-28 season which would make him eligible to play in the 2027 tournament in Australia.

Willis has met with England head coach Steve Borthwick and Conor O’Shea, the RFU’s executive director of performance rugby, but the pair told him he would only be “considered for selection” if he returned to the Premiership. Bristol Bears previously made a big push to sign Willis while he has also been linked with a move to Saracens where his brother, Tom, plays.

However, the long-term nature of Jack’s contract shows how settled the 27-year-old has become in the Pink City.

Willis only signed for Toulouse when Wasps went into administration in 2022 and was given special dispensation to continue playing for England through the 2023 Six Nations and the 2023 World Cup before suffering a neck injury in the pool-stage win against Chile. However, that was the last of Willis’ 16 caps with the loophole closing for the 2024 Six Nations.

Despite the talents of Willis, centre Joe Marchant and wing Henry Arundell playing in the Top 14, Borthwick has resigned himself to the fact that he will not be able to select players based in France, saying in June, “That’s the rule that is in place. Simple as that.”

Willis’ game has only gone from strength to strength since moving to Toulouse as one of Europe’s preeminent flankers where he plays alongside France half-backs Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. Last season he won the Top 14 and Champions Cup and, speaking in April, he saw no reason to return to England quickly.

“I love it here,” Willis said. “The club are great and they have really helped my family settle in here and that’s something that I put at the forefront of my decision-making of what’s best for my family and my two little children. We want to make sure that we are really enjoying things.

“For me there’s lots of things to consider when you talk about a move. After leaving Wasps, there were a lot of emotions. Trying to deal with joining another club in England is a hard thing. No one probably realises how difficult that is. I think I probably escaped a little bit being out here at being at such a great club where we have had the chance to win a Top 14 and a Champions Cup.”

Willis may also be conscious of the example of Zach Mercer who left Bath to join Montpellier where he was crowned the Top 14 player of the year in 2022. However, having committed to returning to English rugby with Gloucester for the 2023-24 season, Mercer was among the first players to be cut from England’s training squad for the 2023 World Cup.