JACK IT IN
Toulouse star Willis urges RFU to change rules preventing non-Premiership players lining up for England
JACK WILLIS has urged RFU bosses to reconsider their overseas rule as he prepares to go from Wasps redundancy to Champions Cup semi-final.
Six months after being one of the 167 made jobless by the financial collapse of his lifelong club, Willis is playing for Toulouse at Leinster.
The clash in Dublin on Saturday comes a fortnight after the flanker turned a short-term move into a three-year deal with the five-time European champions.
Under RFU regulations, which prevent non-Premiership players representing their country, he will be ineligible after the World Cup until 2026 – arguably robbing England of his best playing years.
“It needs to be discussed and I think something has to change,” Willis said. “Where the current salary cap lies (£5million) it is not feasible for things to carry on the way they are.
“Being involved in the England set-up is not appealing to clubs as you are away for half the season.
“They don’t get the financial benefits for it and you get caught in that zone in-between, almost less valuable to them.”
Willis, 26, argues the ‘exceptional circumstances’ caveat should still apply, what with the salary cap cut and the scarcity of jobs since the market was flooded by players from Wasps and Worcester.
He added: “I made the decision to be in the best place possible for my rugby and that has to be a factor moving forward as, to play for England, you have to play your best rugby.”
Stars joining Willis in the Top 14 next season cranks up the pressure on RFU boss Bill Sweeney, particularly with England head coach Steve Borthwick (below) among those pressing for reform.
Willis, who describes the past six months as a “roller-coaster of emotions”, did not have the luxury of sitting on his hands and waiting for English rugby to find a solution. He added: “Given what happened at Wasps, probably the low point of my career and life in general so far, I had to go out and find what was next. I had to take matters into my own hands and make a decision.
“The options in England were incredibly limited, but moving your life to France doesn’t just affect you.
“My partner and my son are here and that affects grandparents, aunties and uncles who you’re taking the little one away from.
“I couldn’t really believe how great a club I was at. I want to control my own fate and Toulouse is the right place to do that.”