Original Summary

Getty Images / Willis lifted the French title in June after victory over Montpellier in the final at the Stade de France 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. Getty Images / Willis scored a try in a 71-0 victory over Chile in September 2023, his final appearance for England The 29-year-old said he made his decision to stay at Toulouse 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]!"

中文概览

中文标题： 法国Top14最佳球员威利斯重申想打测试赛橄榄球

杰克·威利斯连续获评法国Top14赛季最佳球员，目前效力图卢兹，因英格兰只选国内球员而无缘国家队；他称仍想打测试赛但规则如此，并提到自己有资格代表爱尔兰，却面临同样规则限制。

  • 情报分类：综合情报
  • 分类依据：橄榄球运动员奖项与国家队资格新闻，不属指定专业类别，归综合情报。
  • 信息来源：英语新闻 / BBC News Top Stories
  • 发布时间：2026/9/29 18:12:22