Saracens have announced that Tom Willis will be joining their team for the upcoming season, which will lead to Billy Vunipola leaving the club according to The Telegraph.
The 23-year-old back-row prospect, currently playing for Bordeaux after leaving Wasps, will join the Men in Black on a long-term deal.
Willis, the younger brother of England international Jack, made over 50 appearances for Wasps during his Premiership debut in 2017.
He will finish the current season in the Top 14 before joining Saracens.
Willis is looking forward to making the move to StoneX Stadium.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Saracens, It is a great club with a fantastic playing and coaching group and I’m looking forward to being a part of it next season.”
Director of Rugby Mark McCall is thrilled to have signed Willis.
“We are delighted to be welcoming Tom to Saracens. He is a player that we have admired for a long time and we are confident that he will be a huge success here over the coming years.”
Vunipola, who has now earned 68 caps for England, recently renewed his contract with Saracens in 2021 before being selected for England's tour of Australia last summer.
This came after his strong performance in the Premiership final, despite the defeat against Leicester Tigers.
Billy Vunipola facts:
- Viliami Vunipola, also known as Billy, was born on November 3rd, 1992 in Sydney. His father, Fe'ao, and his uncles, Manu and Elisi, all represented Tonga on the international rugby stage
- After being selected for England U18, U20 and Saxons squads, he earned his first senior England cap against Argentina in June 2013, scoring his first Test try
- Vunipola was selected for the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand, but subsequently pulled out due to a shoulder injury. He was overlooked for the 2021 tour to South Africa
- He stayed with Saracens after the club was relegated in 2020 for salary cap breaches and helped them win Championship promotion in 2021
Steve Borthwick’s four wildcard call-ups include uncapped back-rower Tom Willis
As he prepares to announce his first England squad for the 2023 Six Nations, new head coach Steve Borthwick is facing the task of making four significant selection decisions.
The former England captain’s first match in charge will be the Six Nations opener against Scotland on the 4th February.
Reports suggest he's made four significant call-ups ahead of the game at Twickenham.
#1. Tom Willis
It has been reported by The Telegraph that Borthwick has contacted the club of 23-year-old No 8 Tom Willis, Bordeaux-Begles, to inform them that Willis is under consideration for selection.
According to regulation nine, the law that requires governing bodies to sign a form for the release of players for international duty, Bordeaux-Begles expects Willis to be selected.
The back row position in the England squad has a high level of competition, but Borthwick's decision to confirm Willis' availability suggests that the uncapped player, who is the brother of former Wasps flanker Jack Willis, is a strong contender for the World Cup in France in September.
Follow Tom on Twitter: @tomwillis12
Tom Willis of Wasps during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Wasps at Kingsholm Stadium on November 28, 2020 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK/Gallagher)
#2. Ben Earl
Ben Earl of Saracens looks dejected after losing during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final Match between Leicester Tigers and Saracens at Twickenham Stadium on 18 June 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
After returning to the England camp last week, the player delivered a player-of-the-match performance on Friday night, winning a couple of turnovers and likely impressing Borthwick with his skills.
This will give Borthwick plenty to consider as he plans his team strategy for the fast approaching 2023 Six Nations.
Should be in the starting XV, nevermind the squad.
DID YOU KNOW? At school level Earl played much more cricket than rugby; he was an all-rounder and played for Kent until he was 15
#3. Dan Cole
Leicester Tigers player Dan Cole during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Leicester Tigers and London Irish on the first midweek round of matches as part of the Return to Rugby campaign as rugby continues after COVID 19 lockdown at Welford Road on 26 Aug. Photo: Steve Bond/PPAUK/Gallagher
35-year-old Tigers prop Cole, who is the in-form Premiership tight-head, will be recalled by Borthwick for the Six Nations according to The Telegraph.
fter an England Saxons debut against Portugal in February 2009, he went to the Churchill Cup in the USA and stepped up to make his Test debut in the 2010 Six Nations after just 21 senior starts for Leicester.
He was an ever-present in Six Nations fixtures for the next four seasons, as well as playing in his first World Cup in 2011. His 50th cap came during the 2015 Six Nations before heading for his second Rugby World Cup.
He shared in England’s Grand Slam of 2016 and was an ever-present in a record unbeaten run up to the final round of the 2017 Six Nations and now has 95 caps to go with three in the colours of the Lions.
#4. Dan Kelly
Leicester Tigers player Dan Kelly during the warm upnbefore the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Worcester Warriors at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on February 5th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
Kelly, the 21-year-old inside centre and another of Borthwick’s former charges at Leicester Tigers, is another eye-catching inclusion.
An Ireland Under-20s international, he arrived at Leicester Tigers in 2020, making the short journey from Loughborough University.
A midfielder capable of playing at inside and outside centre, Kelly was born in Manchester and is both Irish and English qualified.
He was a member of the Sale Sharks Academy from 2017-19 before settling at Loughborough and playing in their National League squad alongside Tigers academy graduates Freddie Steward, Jonny Law and Joe Browning.
He made his senior debut for Tigers in the Premiership trip to Gloucester in August 2020 and two further appearances before the end of that season.
Follow Dan on social media
Instagram: @1.dkelly | Twitter: @DanielRossKelly
