Jack Willis, who last played for England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, jokingly challenged reporters to find him a way back into Test rugby after he retained his award as the best player in France.

Willis moved to Toulouse in November 2022 after Wasps went out of business, and was initially given dispensation to continue playing for England given the exceptional circumstances.

The back row won the most recent of his 14 caps in a pool-stage hammering of Chile, but, having opted to remain in French club rugby, has not been eligible for England since.

A long-standing policy restricts England selection to domestic-based players. It strengthens Prem clubs’ ability to retain top talent, while England also benefit from increased access and control over their players.

Willis has been a huge success across the Channel. He was named player of the match in June’s Top14 final win over Montpellier as he added a fourth French title to the Champions Cup crown he lifted in 2024.

Willis came top of a three-man shortlist for the Top14’s best player for the 2025-26 campaign, seeing off competition from France and Bordeaux-Begles fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and Clermont-Auvergne’s All Black Harry Plummer.

Willis becomes only the second player – after France captain Antoine Dupont – to retain the accolade.

The 29-year-old made his decision to stay at Toulouse, where his contract runs until 2029, despite knowing it would put him out of contention for an England spot.

“You know what you sacrifice,” Willis said of his Test career.

“It’s something I still want to do, but rules are rules.”

Willis is now, in theory, available for selection by Ireland.

Three years have passed since he last appeared for England and, under World Rugby’s ‘birthright’ rule, he could now represent a country which he, his parents or his grandparents were born in. Willis’ grandfather was born in Belfast.

Ireland’s strong preference for home-based players has been relaxed on rare occasions in the past with Jonny Sexton and Tommy Bowe continuing to play for their country despite moves to Racing 92 and the Ospreys respectively.

However, the likes of Simon Zebo have also found themselves excluded after heading overseas.

It is highly unlikely any compromise would be found that allows Willis to play for Ireland while remaining with Toulouse.

“I’m a quarter Irish, but they have the same rules as England,” said Willis.

“You need to do some digging, that’s your job, you find the way [around the rules]!”