Jack Willis rejects three Premiership clubs for overseas move

Jack Willis facts:

1. Willis played junior rugby for Reading Abbey R.F.C. before joining the Wasps Senior Academy in 2015
2. He made his England debut against Georgia in 2020 in the Autumn Nations Cup, and opened the scoring with a debut try in the 15th minute as England won 40-0
3. Willis won the World Rugby U20 Championship with England in 2016
4. He candidly documented the psychological struggles of a second long-term injury in an article series with 

   The Times

   , admitting that: “There have been times when I thought I would not make it back.”

Warren Gatland's England XV to face Japan

Back-three:

• 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
• 14. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
• 11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath RFC)

Freddie Steward of England goes over for a try during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 13 November 2021. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

• In May 2022 Steward was named as the Rugby Players' Association Player's Young player of the year and England men's player of the season
• In April 2017, Nowell was called up for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, becoming the first player to be selected from Exeter Chiefs by the Lions
• Cokanasiga was born in Fiji but before his third birthday, moved to England with his father, Ilaitia, who was in the British Army

Centres:

• 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
• 12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)

Manu Tuilagi of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

• He was named Manusamoa, after the name of the Samoan national team, Manu Samoa, because his brother Freddie was selected for Samoa at the World Cup in 1991, the year Manu was born

Halfbacks:

• 10. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
• 9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

Owen Farrell, Captain of England kicks the penalty during the Autumn Nations Series Match between England and Argentina at Twickenham Stadium on 6 November 2022. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK

Front-row:

• 1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
• 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
• 3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)

DID YOU KNOW?

• Genge has developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia)
• Sinckler has represented England at under-16, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, and has been a crucial member of the senior team since 2016

Second-row:

• 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
• 5. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks)

Final whistle celebrations for Maro Itoje of England Rugby after the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

• As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at U17 level in shot put
• Hill is the nephew of former Rugby league international Paul Loughlin.

Back-row:

• 6. Jack Willis (Free Agent)
• 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
• 8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)

Tom Curry of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

• Curry is the twin brother of Sale Sharks flanker Ben Curry, son of Bishop Heber High School Head Teacher David Curry and nephew of former England hooker John Olver