Former England star talks about rumors of switching to Ireland and his future in international soccer.
Jack Willis is one of the top rugby players right now, thanks to his great performances over the last few years with Toulouse.
He used to play for England but decided in 2022 to stop playing internationally and move to the south of France to join Toulouse. Now 29 years old and with three years left on his contract, time is running out to add to his 14 England caps, especially since his last game was at the 2023 World Cup.
Fans of the 2003 World Cup-winning England team would love to see Willis back in the squad. However, they know the rules mean coach Steve Borthwick can only pick players who compete in England’s leagues.
On the podcast For the Love of Rugby, Willis shared, “There will always be a part of me that thinks I had more to give internationally. But I don’t regret staying here. I didn’t choose to leave England, I chose to stay, and I love it here. That’s important, and I stand by that choice.
“As a player, I know I didn’t always show my best for England, and looking back, I could have done better. At the 2023 World Cup, I didn’t get many chances. But I’ve grown a lot as both a person and a player since then. When I signed this longer contract, I understood what it meant for my international career, so you have to accept that.
“There’s always a little part of me that feels like I could have offered more, but I don’t regret deciding to stay. Toulouse is an amazing club, and you have to come to terms with the rules. I’m a competitor and want to play on the biggest stage, which is international rugby, but I have great mates in that team and will always support them.”
Though he may feel some disappointment about how his England career has gone, talk started about the possibility of him playing for Ireland. His grandfather was Irish, and after three years abroad, he would be eligible to represent Ireland, the 2024 Six Nations champions. Rumors even suggested the Irish Rugby Football Union might have reached out to him.
But Willis put those rumors to rest, saying, “My granddad is fully Irish, but if it meant moving countries, that would be the same situation as with England — the same rules apply. You can think about different options, but if you keep worrying about changing teams or countries, it wears you down. Sometimes you have to accept your reality, and I feel pretty good about mine. I’m very happy to be part of this club.”
Willis seems settled in Toulouse. His brother Tom also decided to move back to Europe to play in the Top 14 with Bordeaux Begles. Jack’s contract runs until 2029, and he is expected to see it through. That means it’s unlikely he’ll be playing for England or Ireland again unless the selection rules change.