RugbyRebels

Danno wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:40 pm I wonder if Jack will ever come back. He's had potentially career ending injuries in a white shirt, is outstanding at Toulouse, he and his family must enjoy living there (or they wouldn't have hung about for 3 years) and is probably on some good cheese.

Short of Toulouse suddenly deciding they won't or can't renew his contract, whenever that's up, or maybe wanting to be closer to the wider family, I don't know why he'd bother.

Tigersman wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:55 pm I mean Toulouse is wonderful but if he has a realistic chance of winning a RWC in 2 years time I don't see why he wouldn't have a season or two in England.

Danno wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:40 pm I wonder if Jack will ever come back. He's had potentially career ending injuries in a white shirt, is outstanding at Toulouse, he and his family must enjoy living there (or they wouldn't have hung about for 3 years) and is probably on some good cheese.

Short of Toulouse suddenly deciding they won't or can't renew his contract, whenever that's up, or maybe wanting to be closer to the wider family, I don't know why he'd bother.

Puja wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 3:01 pm

Danno wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:40 pm I wonder if Jack will ever come back. He's had potentially career ending injuries in a white shirt, is outstanding at Toulouse, he and his family must enjoy living there (or they wouldn't have hung about for 3 years) and is probably on some good cheese.

Short of Toulouse suddenly deciding they won't or can't renew his contract, whenever that's up, or maybe wanting to be closer to the wider family, I don't know why he'd bother.

I don't see it happening. He's signed on for another 2 or 3 years IIRC, he's earning a decent wedge, he's utterly beloved there, it's a beautiful place to be, and the only downside is not playing for England, which he wouldn't be guaranteed of even if he did return, given the competition in his positions.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 3:01 pm

Danno wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:40 pm I wonder if Jack will ever come back. He's had potentially career ending injuries in a white shirt, is outstanding at Toulouse, he and his family must enjoy living there (or they wouldn't have hung about for 3 years) and is probably on some good cheese.

Short of Toulouse suddenly deciding they won't or can't renew his contract, whenever that's up, or maybe wanting to be closer to the wider family, I don't know why he'd bother.

I don't see it happening. He's signed on for another 2 or 3 years IIRC, he's earning a decent wedge, he's utterly beloved there, it's a beautiful place to be, and the only downside is not playing for England, which he wouldn't be guaranteed of even if he did return, given the competition in his positions.

Puja

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 4:51 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 3:01 pm

Danno wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:40 pm I wonder if Jack will ever come back. He's had potentially career ending injuries in a white shirt, is outstanding at Toulouse, he and his family must enjoy living there (or they wouldn't have hung about for 3 years) and is probably on some good cheese.

Short of Toulouse suddenly deciding they won't or can't renew his contract, whenever that's up, or maybe wanting to be closer to the wider family, I don't know why he'd bother.

I don't see it happening. He's signed on for another 2 or 3 years IIRC, he's earning a decent wedge, he's utterly beloved there, it's a beautiful place to be, and the only downside is not playing for England, which he wouldn't be guaranteed of even if he did return, given the competition in his positions.

Puja

That’s the crux of it isn’t it. He went to the World Cup and barely played before his injury. Competing with Curry x 2, Underhill, pollock, earl and his own brother to get a game for England. Not guaranteed in any way- look at Zach Mercer.

francoisfou wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 5:09 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 3:01 pm

Danno wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:40 pm I wonder if Jack will ever come back. He's had potentially career ending injuries in a white shirt, is outstanding at Toulouse, he and his family must enjoy living there (or they wouldn't have hung about for 3 years) and is probably on some good cheese.

Short of Toulouse suddenly deciding they won't or can't renew his contract, whenever that's up, or maybe wanting to be closer to the wider family, I don't know why he'd bother.

I don't see it happening. He's signed on for another 2 or 3 years IIRC, he's earning a decent wedge, he's utterly beloved there, it's a beautiful place to be, and the only downside is not playing for England, which he wouldn't be guaranteed of even if he did return, given the competition in his positions.

Puja

Jack « Weeleece »

Banquo wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 5:16 pm

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 4:51 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 3:01 pm

I don't see it happening. He's signed on for another 2 or 3 years IIRC, he's earning a decent wedge, he's utterly beloved there, it's a beautiful place to be, and the only downside is not playing for England, which he wouldn't be guaranteed of even if he did return, given the competition in his positions.

Puja

That’s the crux of it isn’t it. He went to the World Cup and barely played before his injury. Competing with Curry x 2, Underhill, pollock, earl and his own brother to get a game for England. Not guaranteed in any way- look at Zach Mercer.

He either backs himself or 'settles' for a very good life

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:20 am Maybe, the Lions snub will confirm his belief that he's best off where he is.

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:44 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:20 am Maybe, the Lions snub will confirm his belief that he's best off where he is.

hardly a snub, he's not played international rugby for a long while in selection of Lions terms.

Danno wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 9:07 am

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:44 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:20 am Maybe, the Lions snub will confirm his belief that he's best off where he is.

hardly a snub, he's not played international rugby for a long while in selection of Lions terms.

Agreed. He's (by all accounts) doing an amazing job there but hasn't played an international since..... 2022?

Danno wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 9:07 am

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:44 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:20 am Maybe, the Lions snub will confirm his belief that he's best off where he is.

hardly a snub, he's not played international rugby for a long while in selection of Lions terms.

Agreed. He's (by all accounts) doing an amazing job there but hasn't played an international since..... 2022?

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:44 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:20 am Maybe, the Lions snub will confirm his belief that he's best off where he is.

hardly a snub, he's not played international rugby for a long while in selection of Lions terms.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:20 am Maybe, the Lions snub will confirm his belief that he's best off where he is.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 2:54 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:44 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:20 am Maybe, the Lions snub will confirm his belief that he's best off where he is.

hardly a snub, he's not played international rugby for a long while in selection of Lions terms.

Will he qualify for France if he stays there? I reckon he'd get picked if he did.

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 4:10 pm https://archive.ph/7Kv6v

A bit on Emeka Ilione. I thought he'd slowed down on his studies but nope, apparently between rugby and medicine he's doing pretty much 12 hour days 7 days a week.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 2:54 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:44 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:20 am Maybe, the Lions snub will confirm his belief that he's best off where he is.

hardly a snub, he's not played international rugby for a long while in selection of Lions terms.

Will he qualify for France if he stays there? I reckon he'd get picked if he did.

Puja wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 7:35 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 2:54 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:44 am

hardly a snub, he's not played international rugby for a long while in selection of Lions terms.

Will he qualify for France if he stays there? I reckon he'd get picked if he did.

No - you can't switch nationality based on residency. Because he's capped by England, he can only swap to someone he's eligible for based on ancestry or birthplace.

And that’s the end of it and we shall never speak of him again.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 3:01 pm

Danno wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:40 pm I wonder if Jack will ever come back. He's had potentially career ending injuries in a white shirt, is outstanding at Toulouse, he and his family must enjoy living there (or they wouldn't have hung about for 3 years) and is probably on some good cheese.

Short of Toulouse suddenly deciding they won't or can't renew his contract, whenever that's up, or maybe wanting to be closer to the wider family, I don't know why he'd bother.

I don't see it happening. He's signed on for another 2 or 3 years IIRC, he's earning a decent wedge, he's utterly beloved there, it's a beautiful place to be, and the only downside is not playing for England, which he wouldn't be guaranteed of even if he did return, given the competition in his positions.

Puja

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 7:25 pm Except he didn’t when he was available … No doubt he is an excellent player but Toulouse play to his strengths and on the evidence we have, he wasn’t quite able to translate his club performance to test level. He was perfectly good when he played, but not an obvious stand out.

It’s fair to say he was getting better, but to say he would ‘walk straight back in to the side’ isn’t accurate. He’d have a decent shout, but walk in? No.

As always, it’s about balance and I’m not sure Willis’ strengths (over the ball and carrying) are in the areas we need the most.