Willis Wins Top 14 Award as Ireland Eligibility Draws Attention

Jack Willis won the Top 14 Player of the Year award for a second consecutive season on September 29, while reports of his international ambitions offered differing accounts of whether he remains focused on England or might consider Ireland. The Toulouse back-row forward is eligible to represent Ireland through his grandfather, but no decision by Willis or Ireland’s governing body to pursue a switch has been reported. The 29-year-old received the French league’s top individual award at the 22nd La Nuit du Rugby, organized by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby. He was recognized after helping Toulouse secure a fourth successive Top 14 title. Willis was named player of the match in the final against Montpellier, which Toulouse won 28-20, according to reports on the awards. Willis said he still wants to play Test rugby and acknowledged that staying at Toulouse means accepting the consequences for his England selection prospects. He last represented England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and has been unable to add to his caps while playing in France under England’s rules restricting selection of players based overseas.