Jack Willis has opened up on his England future, admitting he may never feel fully satisfied with his international career\u2014but insists he has no regrets over staying in France.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Stade Toulousain\u00a0back-rower, who has been in outstanding form in the Top 14, acknowledged there will always be a lingering sense of \u201cwhat if\u201d when it comes to England.<\/p>\n
Join RUCK\u2019s Instagram broadcast channel <\/a>and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019ll always be part of me that will look back thinking I had more in me from an international point of view,\u201d he told For The Love Of Rugby.<\/a><\/p>\n Willis was involved with England during the\u00a02023 Rugby World Cup, but admitted he never truly delivered his best on that stage.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I showed the best version of Jack Willis in an England shirt\u2026 I think I could have done better.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite that, the 29-year-old made it clear he does not regret committing his future to Toulouse\u2014fully aware it would likely end his England chances under current RFU selection rules.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t choose to leave England, but I chose to stay\u2026 I love it here. I won\u2019t regret that.\u201d<\/p>\n Willis also revealed there has been\u00a0no contact at all\u00a0from England boss\u00a0Steve Borthwick\u00a0since his move abroad.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Never had anything.\u201d<\/p>\n As a competitor, however, the pull of Test rugby hasn\u2019t disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want to be playing at the biggest stage and international rugby is the biggest stage\u2026 but yeah, there\u2019s always a part of it that\u2019s a bit tough.\u201d<\/p>\n There has also been no approach from the\u00a0British & Irish Lions, despite his standout form in France.<\/p>\n Speculation around a potential switch to Ireland\u2014via his Irish heritage\u2014was also addressed, but Willis suggested it\u2019s not a path he\u2019s seriously pursuing.<\/p>\n \u201cMy granddad\u2019s fully Irish, but if it involves moving, then that puts me in the same situation\u2026 sometimes you\u2019ve got to accept your reality.\u201d<\/p>\n For now, Willis remains content with life in France, even if questions over his England career may never fully disappear.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019ll always be a bit more to give\u2026 but I don\u2019t regret my decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n OTHER ENGLAND STARS WHO CAN SWAP NATIONS:<\/p>\n Marcus Smith<\/p>\n Smith admitted that while it remains a dream to wear the England shirt, the idea of one day representing the Philippines alongside his brothers would be incredibly special.<\/p>\n \u201cOne day I\u2019d love to help and be involved in Philippine rugby \u2014 my brother currently plays for the Philippines,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n Mako Vunipola<\/p>\n Mako is long established as an England prop, but with Tongan heritage via his parents and no England appearances since the 2023 World Cup, he\u00a0could\u00a0be eligible to represent\u00a0Tonga\u00a0under World Rugby\u2019s eligibility rules (three\u2011year stand\u2011down + heritage) should he choose to pursue that route.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dan Kelly<\/p>\n A talented\u00a0centre\u00a0currently playing in\u00a0Ireland, Kelly has one senior England cap but has since appeared for\u00a0Ireland A, aligning him with Ireland under current eligibility pathways. <\/p>\n England\u2019s restrictions on overseas\u2011based players limited his opportunities with the Red Rose, but a full switch to Ireland gives him the chance for consistent Test rugby and a starting role at the 2027 World Cup.<\/p>\n Billy Vunipola<\/p>\n Billy also qualifies for\u00a0Tonga\u00a0through family heritage. Despite a long England career, he hasn\u2019t featured since playing in 2024 under the overseas\u2011based restrictions. Tonga has shown interest in bringing the powerful number 8 into their squad for 2027, and given the eligibility framework, he\u00a0could\u00a0make such a switch.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n