Less than two years ago, the third line arrived in Toulouse in a particularly complicated situation. Today, on the lawn of Aviron Bayonnais, Jack Willis will start the match as captain of the Rouge et Noir, a first. A strong signal from the Toulouse staff.
While certain executives like Anthony Jelonch are present in the starting XV, it is indeed the English third row who was chosen to represent his team. It must be said that since his arrival at Stade Toulousain, Jack Willis has shined on and off the field.
RUGBY. Supporters, specialists, they campaign for Jack Willis after his breathtaking performances with Toulouse
Complicated arrival, express adaptation
However, Jack Willis' debut in Toulouse did not take place in the best conditions. In the fall of 2022, the English club Wasps filed for bankruptcy. At that time, around forty professional players including England internationals were unemployed.
Fortunately for him, the English federation allows them to give in to the sirens of foreign championships, at least until the 2023 World Cup. It is then that on November 24, 2022, the Toulouse stadium formalizes the arrival of Jack Willis in its ranks.
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Since then, the Englishman has particularly shone on the pitch and has even managed to establish himself as a starter in a very competitive third line. In less than two years, he has already played no less than 43 matches with the Rouge et Noirwinning two Brennus Shields and a Champions Cup.
Finally, Jack Willis particularly showed his love for the club. To the point where the player with 15 caps with the XV de la Rose shunned his selection to extend with the Haute-Garonne club, less than a month ago. From now on, the player is linked to Stade Toulousain until 2029 and should normally miss the next World Cup in Australia, in 2027.
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Excellent on the pitch, the 27-year-old player has also integrated very well into the Toulouse team. “He’s a guy who has integrated really well into our squad. He is full of talent. Jack has crazy energy and throughout the ground game, he is formidable. He's one of the most memorable players I've played with in this sector.”, confided François Cros about Jack Willis, a few months ago, according to comments reported by ActuRugby.
TOP 14. Jack Willis, master of the ground and cornerstone of the Toulouse game
