Jack Willis open to playing for Ireland but move remains unlikely

Willis qualifies to play for Ireland through his Belfast-born grandfather

Toulouse's Jack Willis was named Top 14 player of the year for the second consecutive season on Monday. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Jack Willis is open to playing for Ireland though significant roadblocks stand in the way of it happening. The back row qualifies for Ireland through his grandfather who was born in Belfast. 

A three-year stand down period from international rugby being completed also means he could switch allegiance. Willis won the last of his 14 caps for England at the 2023 World Cup. The 29-year-old is not currently eligible to line out for England as he plays for French side Toulouse. 

Like the IRFU, England Rugby requires players to be playing domestically to be considered for international selection. That same requirement would be one of the main issues preventing him from playing with Ireland. Willis would have to join one of the four provinces. His current deal with Toulouse runs until 2029.

Willis moved to the Top 14 team in 2022 and was initially given dispensation to play for England as his former club Wasps had folded. After signing a longer term deal with Toulouse, rather than returning to play with an English club, he was deemed ineligible.

For the second consecutive season, Willis was named Top 14 player of the year on Monday. At the awards night, he was asked about his Irish links.  

“I’m a quarter-Irish, but I believe they’ve got the same rules as England," said Willis.

"I don’t know. You can do some digging, that’s your job. You find the route [around the rules],” he said.

Willis added that he does miss international rugby. 

“But, when you make a decision, you have to make sure that you’ve made the right one," he said.

"It wasn’t my choice at the beginning, but it has been my choice to stay here. It’s something I always have in mind and I always want to do, but the rules are rules. I’ve made my decision, I can’t change anything, except if something out of my control changes.”

He also said that he would "definitely" be happy were he to finish his playing days at Toulouse.

"I’m very proud to play for this club. It’s an incredible club,” he said. “I think most people would jump at the opportunity to put that shirt on and to be able to have done what we’ve done the last few years. I want to just try and continue that. I can never talk past the current contract I’ve got.

“Potentially they won’t want me when we get to that point. I might be old by then. I’ll always have that in the back of my mind. But I don’t think you should live life with regrets. I think you make a decision and you just need to embrace it from the get-go.”