Always a Wasp

Jack Willis addresses England return post-Toulouse win
By PA
19 hours ago

Jack Willis has developed an emotional attachment to Toulouse that indicates a prompt return to England is unlikely.

Willis added a Investec Champions Cup winners? medal to the Top 14 honours he claimed last season after Leinster were defeated 31-22 in extra time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

The 27-year-old flanker was magnificent in defence, emerging as the most prolific tackler by a distance with 30 in a match that was widely considered Test-match standard.


But he remains off limits to England head coach Steve Borthwick, who is only permitted to select players competing for Gallagher Premiership clubs in a rule that for the time being leaves Willis stranded on 14 caps.

It was assumed that joining Toulouse was a short-term solution to Wasps? financial collapse in 2022, but as the silverware rolls in his bond with Europe?s most successful team grows stronger.

?For me there?s lots of things to consider when you talk about a move,? Willis said.

?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 probably escaped a little bit being out at such a great club where we have had a chance to win a Top 14 and a Champions Cup.


?The emotions I feel right now is that I am incredibly grateful. I have been welcomed into a group that have shown nothing but respect to me and have welcomed me with open arms. That?s all I am thinking about.

?I have just won the Champions Cup. If you had told me two years ago that I would be winning a Champions Cup, I would have thought that you were mental.

?There were a lot of lows with Wasps and I was not playing as much as I would have wanted in certain games, so to be welcomed in Toulouse ? I can?t tell you how grateful I am.

?My family have been welcomed and there are so many good blokes here. I?m just so grateful to be a part of this group and to be able to try to add to it.?

Even Willis? outstanding shift in defence was overshadowed by the all-round brilliance of Toulouse star Antoine Dupont, who was named player of the match and then European player of the year.

?Antoine made 4 turnovers! He can do everything! Hell of a player. He added a hell of a lot,? Willis said.

?As far as I have seen, he?s probably the best rugby player of all time. He has helped me win two trophies.?

I thought Jack made over 40 tackles, not 29 as stated in the article.

He said himself yesterday how hard it would be to join a club in England, reported in the Independent.

Ultimately it isn't money that is keeping him there, it is emotional attachment to his new club (and trophies).
He won't be short of offers to come back, he just doesn't appear to want to. Good for him.

Fwiw I won't support or watch any pro English club regardless of how many Ex Wasps they have, and with the new Championship plans grinding to a halt (as mentioned in the Sunday Times), I cannot see that changing. Then again I have that option- I live in Wales and get the URC on Premier,  I coach girls soccer and have always watched it alongside rugby, though in smaller quantities, I watch red ball county cricket (for free on Youtube).

I got quite emotional watching Jack yesterday and thinking what we have missed with seeing his development as part of what would have been a tremendous Wasps team......just look at how so many are playing so well now. Good on him and I will always support any team with one of boys in it.......though I do draw a line at Sarries I am afraid!!
Now to support Bath and Alfie next weekend!!

England?s loss is Toulouse?s gain with Jack Willis playing the rugby of his life

Flanker and his Toulouse team-mates wrecked Leinster?s breakdown en route to winning a sixth European Champions Cup
Ben Coles, Rugby Reporter 26 May 2024 ? 6:23pm


Back on home soil, Jack Willis gave everyone a reminder of what England are missing as he and his Toulouse team-mates wrecked Leinster?s breakdown en route to winning a sixth Champions Cup. The reason for Willis?s unavailability is of course well known ? one of England?s great back-row talents is now 27 and currently playing the rugby of his life in France, not in the Gallagher Premiership, which makes him unavailable for national selection.

England?s loss is very much Toulouse?s gain, and after the pain of major knee operations, the demise of his beloved Wasps and having to put his England career on hold after committing to stay in France, on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium there was only one emotion for Willis; pure elation.

?I don?t really know how to put it into words if I am being honest with you. The last couple of years, there have been lots of lows with Wasps and not playing as much as I would have wanted in certain games... so to be welcomed in here, I can?t tell you how grateful I am,? Willis said afterwards.

?Walking around on the stage, I was trying to get my head around it. Then when I went up to my family I lost it a little bit if I am honest. A few tears to say the least. I would not be anywhere without the support of all my family, my fianc?e is at the top of that list and my beautiful boy makes me smile every day and switch off from the rugby. That?s really important. If you concentrate too much [on rugby] you lost the plot.?


Toulouse had to produce one of the greatest defensive displays in the competition?s history to deny Leinster in the final for a third straight year, winning 19 turnovers and making 240 tackles with a 91 per cent success rate, astonishing figures even accounting for the period of extra-time. Leinster, by contrast, made 137 tackles.

Naturally, Willis was at the heart of Toulouse?s defensive excellence as they continually thwarted each Leinster entry into their 22, until Josh van der Flier?s try in the 94th minute. ?You don?t win trophies without defence and we know that,? Willis said, with Toulouse continually shutting down Leinster?s attacking structure through controlled disruption. They would leave bodies out of rucks and wait, wait some more, then pounce at the right opportunity.

There are few better at the breakdown than Willis but even he was outshone in that area by Antoine Dupont, who seemed to wake up and decide the final was the day to double down on his status as the best player in the game. Willis won two turnovers, Dupont four, including one after a length-of-the-field sprint following Dan Sheehan?s interception.

Dupont revealed afterwards that his time spent in Sevens ahead of the Olympics had led to more personal focus on the breakdown and jackaling. Based on the final, it is fair to say that time has been well invested. It was also hard to remember a better tactical kicking display from the scrum-half either, landing one particularly impressive 50:22 on a patch of grass the size of a side table. Willis, understandably, did not hold back when praising his team-mates.

?He can do everything,? he said. ?Hell of a player. The way he kicked and moved us into their part of the field was really important. If you give them access you know you are going to be in trouble. As far as I have seen, he?s probably the best rugby player of all time. He has helped me win two trophies.?

Toulouse are not done yet. They are in first place in the Top 14, gunning to retain their title from last year and to win the ?doubl?? this season, as Willis put it. Based on photos of the initial dressing room celebrations, the party will have been lively.

?I promise you I have dreamt of winning this trophy since I was a little boy,? Willis added.

After the past few years, no one deserves it more.