Former England captain Will Carling wants Steve Borthwick to make a major change ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Carling believes England should rethink one of their biggest decisions.
He has also named the player he would put in charge instead.
Speaking to Rugby World, Carling also called for change across the sport.
He believes rugby must do more to grab the attention of fans.
“Rugby needs to learn it has to fight for attention,” said Carling. “It needs transformation.”
His most eye-catching suggestion, however, concerned the England captaincy — and the future of Toulouse star Jack Willis.
Carling said: “If I was in charge, I’d buy Jack Willis out of his contract, bring him back and make him captain.”
Carling wants Willis as England captain
Such a move would mean replacing Maro Itoje as England captain.
Itoje has led the team since the 2025 Six Nations.
However, Carling believes Willis should be the man to lead England towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Willis has become one of Europe’s top back-row players since joining Toulouse. He moved to France after Wasps collapsed in 2022.
His decision to stay in France has also affected his England career.
RFU rules mean England will not usually pick players who play their club rugby abroad.
There is now another twist in the story.
Willis, 29, is eligible to switch to Ireland through his Belfast-born grandfather.
He has now served the required stand-down period since his last England appearance.
RUCK previously reported on Willis becoming eligible for Ireland with immediate effect.
Sky Sports also reported that Willis had opened the door to the possibility of representing Ireland.
England legend makes his choice
Carling knows more than most about the pressures of captaining England.
He was appointed skipper at just 22 and went on to lead his country through one of their most successful periods.
England won Grand Slams in 1991, 1992 and 1995 under Carling, while also reaching the 1991 Rugby World Cup final.
Now, more than three decades later, he believes England should make another major leadership change.
His solution is clear: bring Willis back from Toulouse and give him Itoje’s captaincy.
Read also
Five quirky facts about Will Carling
1. He became England captain at just 22
Carling was only 22 when England made him captain in 1988.
It was a bold call, but it worked. He went on to become one of England’s greatest captains.
His success later earned him a place in the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
2. He served in the Army
Before becoming a rugby star, Carling served in the British Army.
He was an officer in the Royal Regiment of Wales before focusing on rugby.
3. He called RFU bosses ‘old farts’
Carling caused a huge row in 1995 when he hit out at the people running English rugby.
He famously called RFU officials “57 old farts”.
England then removed him as captain, before giving him the job back ahead of the World Cup.
Rugby World has revisited the famous row.
4. He captained England 59 times
Carling won 72 caps for England.
Remarkably, 59 of them came as captain.
England won Grand Slams in 1991, 1992 and 1995 during his time as skipper.
They also reached the 1991 Rugby World Cup final.
5. He only won one Lions Test cap
Carling was one of England's biggest stars, but his Lions Test career was very short.
He toured New Zealand in 1993 and played seven times.
However, the official Lions record shows he won just one Test cap.
