JACK WILLIS on why he'd 'love' to play for England again - as his Toulouse coach drops huge hint about when superstar flanker will head back home

At 9pm French time on Monday, Jack Willis strode to the stage at the iconic Paris venue of L'Olympia to accept the Top14 Player of the Year award with his white shirt soaked with sweat.

Accepting the gong and delivering a speech in his second language to a crowd of hundreds in the venue and millions watching live on Canal+ was understandably nerve-racking. But Willis needn’t have been apprehensive.

His fluent French - once the chants of ‘Willis, Willis’ from the crowd had died down - was more than impressive, summing up the amazing development he has made on and off the field while abroad with Toulouse.

‘Oh man, that was a challenge,’ Willis said afterwards. ‘Look at my shirt! Speaking French is not easy. I make a lot of mistakes. I had a meeting with my son's teacher the other week and she told me he speaks better French than me. He's not even four! But it's important to make the effort to speak the language.’

While on stage, Willis made a gag that it must have been tough for France to hand the country’s best player award - which he was 'genuinely very proud' to receive - to an Englishman. But Willis' form, in arguably the toughest domestic league in the world, has been no joke. 

It has now been three years since the 28-year-old became a victim of English rugby’s financial crisis when he lost his job amid Wasps’ financial demise. Out of misery has come joy with two Top14 titles and two European crowns. He has also become a regular captain of Toulouse – European rugby’s equivalent of Real Madrid.

‘When I lost my job nearly three years ago this November, I remember coming back to the house and wondering what I was going to do,’ Willis said. ‘Three weeks later, I moved out to France. Honestly, it is a dream come true. 

'When I first got the call that Toulouse were interested in me, I was like, “They must have got confused. It's definitely not me”. I feel so grateful they gave me that opportunity at a time that was really tough for me. 

'I wouldn’t be here today without the hospitality and welcome they've given me. I'm very grateful. They gave me an opportunity when they really didn't have to.’

Toulouse might have offered Willis a lifeline. But the player has repaid the French club in spades with regular outstanding performances. He fully deserves the accolade of France’s best player, becoming only the second Englishman after Zach Mercer to win the award.

Not even Jonny Wilkinson, for all his achievements with Toulon, achieved what Willis has done. 

But equally, Willis cannot emulate Wilkinson's achievements with England while he's playing in France. RFU rules state that to play for the national team you must be employed by a Premiership club.  

English rugby understandably wants to protect its domestic league but in doing so is shooting itself in the foot and Willis looks unlikely to play for England at the 2027 World Cup. With his Toulouse contract running until 2029, and huge competition in the back row, he may never add to his 14 Test caps.

Asked about representing Steve Borthwick’s side again, it is obvious Willis isn’t prepared to give up on Toulouse to do so. He wants to repay the faith the French club have shown in him.

‘I would love to (play for England),' Willis said. ‘It's something you dream of as a little kid. It's not something you ever let go of. It's not me who decides the rules. When I lost my job, there wasn't an opportunity (in England) that was feasible for me.

‘I then got the opportunity with Toulouse and I feel like I wanted to give back that loyalty that was shown to me. And that's what I've tried to do with each match. I'm loving life out here. But as it stands, the rule is I've signed a long-term contract here, I can't play for England.’ 

That is of no concern to Toulouse coach Ugo Mola, who is a huge fan of Willis.

‘I think he will stay for a long time with us,’ Mola said. ‘As long as I am the coach, he will stay with me.’ 

With Mola bulletproof as Toulouse coach given his trophy haul, it seems Willis’ long-term future is at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.

‘I understand the English rules,’ Mola added. ‘I understand Steve Borthwick because he must also prioritise his championship, his team and his staff. I already have a lot of French players who are going to the national team, so keeping Jack is good for me.

‘But for Jack, honestly, I think that, in a few years, it might be important for him to go back to try to get selected even if it is not in time for the 2027 World Cup.’

Willis has evolved his attacking game and leadership skills in France. With French icon Antoine Dupont recovering from a serious knee injury, he has regularly stepped in to captain Toulouse. That's no mean feat given doing so requires liaising with both team-mates and match officials in French – a language Willis really didn't speak when he arrived.

At Monday’s awards evening, France’s top rugby dignitaries as one applauded Willis not only for his rugby ability, but also the way he has incorporated himself into their culture.  

‘When we went to look for him, we wanted to find a player who was able to dominate and be a captain,’ Mola said of Willis. ‘Jack very quickly became a part of our team and today, he is a major player in our squad. He is not only a captain by interim, he is one of the captains of the team. He speaks French very well and continues to take lessons.

‘Jack's relationship with the referee is extremely important because he is at the heart of the game. He is someone who is important, both in terms of sport and the human side.

‘He has brought us a little Britishness we did not have in Toulouse.’