Tom Willis confirms international return after England exile

The 27-year-old is set to pull on the famous black-and-white jersey on June 27, just a week after the Gallagher Premiership season concludes — extending his stay in England before he heads to France to join Bordeaux-Bègles next term. Buy tickets for the game here.

Willis’ impending switch to the Top 14 has effectively brought his England involvement to a halt. The move was confirmed on the eve of Steve Borthwick naming his squad for the Autumn Nations Series, and despite technically remaining eligible for selection this season, the back-rower has not featured in any England camp since.

With Borthwick already looking beyond 2025 and planning without him, Willis now gets the chance to close out his time in English rugby with a Barbarians appearance against Wales in south-west London.

Here are five players who look unlikely to wear an England shirt again while Borthwick remains in charge.

The omission of Ford wasn’t subtle.

After back-to-back defeats to Ireland and Scotland, Borthwick didn’t rotate his senior fly-half — he removed him entirely. With Fin Smith handed the reins and the coaching staff doubling down on a refreshed backline, it signalled a strategic shift rather than a temporary tweak.

Ford has been one of England’s most dependable operators over the last decade. But international rugby moves fast, and World Cup cycles move faster. At 30+, he now looks like yesterday’s solution to tomorrow’s problem in the eyes of the current regime.

Could he return in a crisis? Possibly. But coaches rarely pivot away from an established No.10 this decisively unless they’re planning long-term.

Right now, it feels like the page has turned.

The situation surrounding Tom Willis is far more straightforward.

After deciding to move abroad, Willis effectively removed himself from the England equation under RFU selection policy. Borthwick publicly stated that England would invest time in players who will be part of the 2027 World Cup campaign — and confirmed Willis is not in that group.

That’s as clear as it gets.

Regardless of form, availability remains king in Test rugby. Once a player falls outside the strategic pathway, reversals are rare.

For Willis, the door doesn’t look ajar — it looks shut.

Few England stories have been as frustrating as Zach Mercer.

A standout at club level, Mercer has repeatedly found himself on the outside of England’s plans. After being told he wasn’t part of Borthwick’s vision, he openly admitted he felt “done” with England and needed to step away for his own mental well-being.

He later returned to France — a move that, under current selection rules, makes a recall even less likely.

The reality? Mercer doesn’t fit the mould Borthwick appears to prefer at No.8 — a more defensively dominant, collision-heavy profile.

With policy and preference both working against him, his England chapter appears finished.

On paper, Ollie Hassell-Collins ticks boxes.

Size. Power. Finishing ability.

Yet despite strong club form, he’s remained stuck on two caps with little indication he’s climbing back into contention.

Wing is one of the most unforgiving positions in Test rugby. Once a hierarchy forms, it’s difficult to break back in — especially when coaches appear to have stylistic preferences locked in.

The longer Hassell-Collins remains outside the squad, the clearer the message becomes.

Sometimes absence says everything.

In the storied history of Rugby's Greatest Championship, exceptional leaders have emerged—warriors of various forms, be they agile half-backs, towering second rows, or fearless flankers.

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