The Albany Gazette - Willis has no regrets risking England career with Bordeaux return

Saracens No 8 Willis has been crowned the English Prem player of the season in recognition of his dynamic ball-carrying and passing game.

But back in October he announced he would be leaving the London club for Bordeaux, where he spent the 2022/23 season following the financial collapse of Wasps, his former side.

England have a policy of selecting only home-based players for international duty, save in exceptional circumstances.

And while Willis has been available this season, he has been overlooked by Steve Borthwick as the England coach turns his attention to players he can count on for next year's Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The 27-year-old Willis is unlikely to add his tally of eight England caps anytime soon but the loose forward said: "I've had time now to just accept it and I've made my decision. I'm thinking more about what I'm going to rather than what I'm leaving behind."

"There were a lot of factors involved like leaving the country, moving away from family and then rugby factors as well, but for me it was too exciting an opportunity to turn down.

"Having played at Bordeaux already made the decision a lot easier and when I left France it was always in my head that it was such an enjoyable experience that I'd like to go back one day," he added.

"And the opportunity came up and it was too exciting to miss. I didn't want it to pass me by and that was that."

Bordeaux secured back-to-back Champions Cup titles with a 41-19 thrashing of Irish province Leinster in last month's final in Bilbao.

But their European exploits came at a cost, with Bordeaux failing to qualify for French domestic rugby's Top 14 play-offs.

In returning to France, Willis will be closer to older brother Jack, now a key flanker with Toulouse -- who beat Bordeaux in last season's Top 14 final.

Playing against Jack, however, remains awkward for Tom.

"It's a weird one emotionally because we're very close," Tom Willis explained. "I enjoyed the last one because we were at the StoneX (Saracens beat Toulouse 20-14 in January).

"If we're in big games against each other, that's when it will get a bit twitchy. We'll see how we go."

He added: "I'm massively excited. Look what Bordeaux have achieved in Europe the last two seasons. It's incredible and the team I'm going to try and get into is incredible. I want to try and add to what they're already doing.

"Playing at Bordeaux's home ground, the Chaban-Delmas, is one of the best things I've experienced in rugby. To play there week in, week out is going to be incredibly cool."

(T.Brown--TAG)