Tom Willis Confirms Return to International Rugby After Borthwick Exile

The powerful No.8, who has been in outstanding form in the Premiership and Europe, has not featured in England’s plans despite a string of dominant performances. Sources suggest Willis has been “blacklisted” from the national squad following disagreements over selection and availability earlier in the season.

Now the back-row forward will return to Twickenham in famous black-and-white hoops when the Barbarians face Wales in a blockbuster double-header event at Allianz Stadium on Saturday 27 June 2026.

The historic invitational side confirmed the fixture this week, with both the men’s and women’s Barbarians teams taking on Wales in a summer festival of rugby.

The men’s match will kick off at 2pm before the Barbarians Women face Wales Women at 5pm in what organisers are billing as one of the biggest end-of-season celebrations of the sport.

Willis’ involvement adds a major storyline to the occasion. The 26-year-old has been one of the Premiership’s standout forwards in recent seasons, renowned for his explosive ball-carrying and breakdown work. Yet despite that form — and England’s ongoing search for physicality in the back row — he has been overlooked by Borthwick’s regime.

His selection for the Barbarians offers the chance for a statement performance on the very stage where England play their home matches.

Barbarian F.C. said the fixture will showcase the “very best of the men’s and women’s game” and deliver the flair and entertainment that has made the club’s matches famous worldwide.

“Barbarian fixtures excite supporters like no other,” organisers said. “Being a double-header encounter will only amplify that with an abundance of tries, flair, courage, passion and end-to-end entertainment on the day.”

Supporters will be able to watch both matches with a single ticket as Twickenham hosts what is expected to be a packed summer crowd.

Tickets are already on sale via Ticketmaster and England Rugby, starting from £40 for adults and £20 for under-16s.

Premium hospitality packages are also available from £179+VAT per person.

With Willis set to feature and Wales providing the opposition, the clash promises both high-level rugby and plenty of intrigue when the Barbarians return to Twickenham this June.

Here are five players who look unlikely to pull on 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.

Watch the Guinness Six Nations at your local Greene King sports pub.

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.

This is the headline name.

Owen Farrell has been a central figure of the Borthwick era — but the current trajectory suggests his international future may lie elsewhere.

While the England boss has publicly insisted the “door is open,” actions speak louder than words. Farrell hasn’t featured in recent squads, and England are clearly building a new leadership spine without him.

With younger options being handed responsibility at 10 and 12, and with continuity now crucial ahead of 2027, it’s increasingly difficult to see where Farrell fits into the long-term structure.

Never say never in Test rugby.

But unless injuries force a rethink, this England team appears to be moving on.

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