Jack Willis retains Top 14 player award after fourth French title

Jack Willis has retained the Top 14's player-of-the-season award after helping Toulouse win another French title, becoming only the second player to collect the honour in consecutive seasons. BBC Sport's Mike Henson reported that the England back-row forward followed Antoine Dupont in achieving back-to-back wins, while reiterating his desire to return to international rugby.

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Willis topped the three-player shortlist for the 2025-26 season ahead of Bordeaux-Begles and France fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and Clermont-Auvergne's New Zealand international Harry Plummer. The award follows his player-of-the-match performance in Toulouse's victory over Montpellier in June's Top 14 final, when he secured his fourth French championship. He also won the Champions Cup with Toulouse in 2024.

The 29-year-old joined Toulouse in November 2022 after Wasps went out of business. England initially allowed him to remain available for selection because of the exceptional circumstances surrounding that move. His decision to continue playing in France subsequently left him outside England's eligibility policy, which restricts selection to players based in domestic club rugby.

His most recent England appearance came against Chile in the pool stage of the 2023 World Cup. Willis scored a try in that 71-0 victory, earning the latest of his 14 caps. He said he understood the international consequences of staying at Toulouse but remained interested in playing Test rugby again.

According to BBC Sport, England's policy is intended to help domestic clubs retain leading players while giving the national team greater access to, and control over, its squad members. Willis acknowledged the restrictions when discussing his situation after the award, rather than suggesting that an England return had been agreed.

The report also outlined a theoretical route to Ireland eligibility. Three years have elapsed since Willis last represented England, and his Belfast-born grandfather provides a family connection under World Rugby's birthright provisions. That possibility does not amount to a confirmed international switch or a place in Ireland's squad.

Ireland strongly favours selecting home-based players, despite having made occasional exceptions in the past. BBC Sport assessed a compromise permitting Willis to represent Ireland while staying at Toulouse as highly unlikely. For now, his latest recognition is for his club performances, with his wish to resume Test rugby still unresolved.