Having last played for England in the pool stages of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Jack Willis has now completed his three-year stand-down period and can officially swap nations.
Currently with Toulouse, the back-rower took home the Top 14 Player of the Year award for a second straight season, and remains the standard-bearer for loose forwards in the Northern Hemisphere.
A massive addition to any international squad, a recent report revealed that Willis may be open to returning to the fray, but not for England.
In fact, the report revealed that the Toulouse back-rower would be open to playing for rivals Ireland, qualifying through his grandfather.
Former England international Ugo Monye gave his verdict, on whether we could soon see Willis run out in the famous Emerald green at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Speaking exclusively to RUCK with LiveScore Bet, Monye said;
"France are the best international team in the Northern Hemisphere, and they have a highly competitive league." Monye added.
"For Jack to stand head and shoulders above everyone, it says a lot. I'm sure international rugby is an itch he'd quite like to scratch.
"But I reckon he's more likely to move back to England than he is to represent Ireland."
"The only thing blocking him is where he's currently playing. And where he's currently playing, there's no better club side on the planet.
"The reality is, if he plays in any international side, including France, he makes them a better side."
"But I don't want to overlook the contributions he's making domestically. The amount of joy and happiness like how well-nourished his life seems to be.
"He's in the form of his life, and he's good enough to play international rugby. The only thing stopping him is the laws that are in place."
Currently, both RFU and IRFU laws state that for a player to be eligible to represent their nation, they must be playing for one of the country's domestic teams.
However, Monye also revealed that he believed that if Willis desired to return to England, he would have the pick of any club.
"I don't think Jack is doing it to make a point or hold a stance. I think he's doing it because he's really happy. If Jack Willis wants to come back to England, I reckon there are probably a few clubs that would want him"
"Every single club in Ireland and England would want him. But he's obviously very happy, and who wouldn't be when you're playing with some of the best players in the world and you're winning trophies every season."
'I'm Thrilled To See Them Back.' Ugo Monye reacts to Courtney Lawes and Joe Marchant return
Ahead of this year's Gallagher Premiership season, Sale were bolstered by the return of two former England stars.
Courtney Lawes returns from his time in France with Brive, former Harlequins star Joe Marchant also made his return .
Heading into the upcoming season, both stars, with multiple caps between them, reportedly had serious interest in travelling to the World Cup in Steve Borthwick's side.
However, both former international players were warned by England assistant Richard Wigglesworth that they would have to earn their spot.
"For me, it's brilliant. I'm very open-minded for players that want to head off to France or Japan or wherever it might be. But how cool is it that our league is still so attractive?
"I'm fully aware we're in a World Cup year and Courtney and Joe Marchant are two examples who will have ambitions of being down south next October." Monye stated.
"I'm thrilled to see them back. I think the quality of the players we have in our league is tremendous; that's also matched by the quality of coaches and the quality of play that we see."
With the value of the PREM at an all-time high, discussions have been reportedly held within the Top 14 and PREM Rugby regarding a potential shift to the European system.
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The report, which was initially revealed by the Telegraph, stated that some members of the Top 14, including Yann Roubert, the president of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, have interest in potentially reducing the number of qualification spots from 24 to 16.
Additionally, this would also completely remove the competition's pool stages.
"I heard reports from the Top 14, and the French were in agreement with it.
"How can we make it more elite? How can we make it more special? The reality is, with the fixture demands, we don't need more fixtures in Europe.
"We need more meaningful fixtures, and we need more competitive fixtures."
"So, by reducing the number of teams in it, I think it's only going to be better.
"If it means that you have to have four teams from the Gallagher Prem, six teams from the Top 14, and six from the URC, then great.
"All of a sudden, every domestic competition is fighting to be at the top of the table, I'm in favor of it."
The current PREM champions, Northampton, previously qualified for the Champions Cup competition after finishing eighth in the league.
"We have such a condensed league anyway. 10 teams, 18 matches. I think every match is truly meaningful.
"But Northampton went from eighth to the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. You had Exeter, the year before, going from ninth to losing in the Challenge Cup semi-final."
"There are two great examples of that. But when there's an extra level of elite or exclusivity to fight for, then it's an extra reason for fans to care, because everyone wants to be in Europe.
"I think just at the moment, when I look at the amount of wins required to get into the Top Six, is that enough to really call it the most elite competition?"
With the potential game-changing discussion surrounding the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, as well as a record opening season, there is also another layer to this year's Gallagher Premiership.
With spots up for grabs in Steve Borthwick's World Cup squads, homegrown stars are returning from abroad to make their claim.
'It's going to be a smash hit.' Ugo Monye reacts to surprise new Olympic inclusion
With Bristol Bears facing Northampton this week, former NFL hopeful Louis Rees-Zammit will be just a few hours away from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the NFL's Indianapolis Colts are taking on the Washington Commanders.
Given the growing ties between the NFL and the UK in recent years, there was initially speculation that Rees-Zammit could represent Team GB at the Olympic Games following the inclusion of flag football. However, the Bristol star has consistently ruled out a return to the gridiron.
"The NFL has been coming to Europe and going on its tours for a number of years.
"I've worked with the NFL and NFL UK, and I've worked with Flag Football, which is going to be at the Olympics, by the way I think it's going to be a smash hit at the Olympics in LA."
With the annual occasion taking place over the next few weeks, the United Kingdom isn't the only one playing host to these occasions.
On the other hand, the United States is set to host the first-ever Men's Rugby World Cup in North America in 2031, as well as the Women's World Cup in 2033.
"I was in America this summer for the World Cup. I was in Atlanta for the World Cup semifinals. And there's one thing the Americans do very well, and that's host an event.
"Whether that be in America or in Europe, anywhere around the world, they know how to do it."
The opening weekend of the Gallagher Premiership saw a record number of tries scored, with four out of five victories for teams away from home.
Brendan Venter stepped into a 'unique' Culture and Wine Consultant role at Saracens to avoid the media, before a try-of-the-season contender was scored by defending champions Northampton Saints, who began their new campaign with a win.
Week one of the Gallagher PREM season was, according to many, an unadulterated success.
Coming off that massive win for the league, TNT Sports Ugo Monye, gave his thoughts on the current condition of the league.
"A phenomenal first weekend of Gallagher Premiership Rugby. We had the most tries you've ever seen in an opening weekend. There were only two teams that didn't get a bonus point.
"In terms of an opening weekend, loads of storylines, loads of tries, loads of moments, it was great to have the Gallagher Premiership back." Monye revealed.
Following the season opener, an opinion piece published by The Telegraph stated that the Premiership, seeing a record number of tries scored in the season opener, showcased the “social-media-fication” of the sport. However, the former Harlequins star expressed his disagreement.
"I guess the picture I'm trying to paint is that I think the game's in a really good place.
"It feels really stable when attendance has gone up, viewing figures have gone up. Participation's going up; investment is going up.
"There's real business competition for our league. The value's of our league's never been higher."
Ugo Monye was speaking on behalf of LiveScore Bet - the home of NFL betting. Visit https://www.livescorebet.com/uk/ for the latest NFL odds and offers.
