Berliner Tageblatt - Outcast Willis 'not overthinking' England absence despite Top 14 clean sweep

Willis helped the aristocrats of French rugby to their record-extending 24th Top 14 title in June after a barnstorming campaign in which he scored 10 tries and stepped in for the injured Antoine Dupont as captain.

The 28-year-old is unable to add to his 15 England caps under head coach Steve Borthwick as he plays his club rugby abroad.

"I would love to play for England. It's something that you dream of as a little kid," Willis told reporters on Monday after claiming the award.

"You're screaming in front of the TV, singing the national anthem.

"It's not something that you ever want to give up on.

"So there's no point in overthinking it," he added after the ceremony at Paris' L'Olympia theatre.

Willis joined star-studded Toulouse in December 2022 after Wasps went into administration, leaving the versatile back-rower and dozens of other players without a club.

Since his move across the Channel he has won the Top 14 twice, the Champions Cup in 2024 and now French rugby's most-coveted individual award, beating out team-mate Thomas Ramos and Bayonne's Fijian centre Sireli Maqala.

"I'm genuinely very proud of this," Willis said with the golden rugby-ball shaped trophy in his hands.

"But I genuinely also think that if I didn't play for Toulouse with such great players around me, I wouldn't be here tonight.

"I'm incredibly lucky with the guys I've got around me, the space they make for me, the holes they put me through, and I just try and do my job and add to the team the best I can."

Willis's younger brother, Tom, has been linked this week with a move to France for next season, having spent a part of the 2022/2023 campaign with Bordeaux-Begles.

He is likely to be involved with England during their November Test series having impressed for Saracens this term.

"He's a hell of a ball-carrier, in fairness to him," said Willis senior.

"Tom has consistently, in my opinion, been the best player in the Premiership for the last 12 months.

"I don't think it's just me who thinks that. I'm obviously a little bit biased with him being my brother, but I think he's been fantastic."

This Sunday, Toulouse host Bordeaux-Begles in a re-run of last season's epic Top 14 final.

Willis is expected to feature despite suffering a niggle in last weekend's loss at Bayonne, which left Toulouse fifth in the table after five games.

"It's a bit sore, to be honest with you," he said.

"I took a head straight to the kneecap, so it was not only the impact, but also a bit of hyperextension, but I don't think it's anything serious."

F.Müller--BTB