Tom Willis (rugby union, born 1999) explained

Tom Willis
Birth Name:Thomas Daniel Willis[1]
Birth Date:1999 1, df=yes[2]
Birth Place:Reading, England
Height:1.91m (06.27feet)
Weight:1200NaN0
School:Henley College
Relatives:Jack Willis (brother)
Ru Position:Number 8
Years1:2017–2022
Clubs1:Wasps
Apps1:67
Points1:95
Years2:2022–2023
Clubs2:Bordeaux Bègles
Apps2:19
Points2:15
Years3:2023–
Apps3:0
Points3:0
Repyears1:2016–2017
Repteam1:England U18
Repcaps1:6
Reppoints1:15
Repyears2:2018–2019
Repteam2:England U20
Repcaps2:17
Reppoints2:20
Repyears3:2023–
Repteam3:England
Repcaps3:1
Reppoints3:0
Ru Clubupdate:14 June 2023
Ru Ntupdate:6 August 2023

Thomas Daniel Willis (born 18 January 1999) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a Number 8 for Premiership Rugby club Saracens.

Career

Willis started playing rugby as a child at Reading Abbey, following in the footsteps of his father Steven and older brother Jack Willis.[3]

In 2016 Willis represented England under-18.[4] He was included in the squad for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship and came off the bench in the final as England finished runners up to hosts France.[5] [6] He was also a member of the side that finished fifth at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship and scored the winning try in a game against Ireland.[7]

In October 2017 Willis made his league debut for Wasps against Saracens.[8] On 24 October 2020 he started in the Premiership final as they finished runners up to Exeter Chiefs.[9] Wasps entered administration on 17 October 2022 and Willis was made redundant along with all other players and coaching staff.[10] In November 2022, he signed for Bordeaux Bègles[11] and played throughout the season in their run to the Top 14 semi-final where they were defeated by La Rochelle.[12] After one season in France he joined Saracens for the 2023-2024 campaign.[13]

England coach Steve Borthwick included Willis in the training squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[14] On 5 August he made his Test debut coming on a second-half substitute in a warm-up defeat to Wales.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ESPN Profile . ESPN . 4 September 2020.
  2. News: Tom Willis. Premiership Rugby. 9 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Morgan. Charlie. Jack and Tom Willis: the brothers who became team-mates – and now Top 14 rivals. subscription. 5 May 2023. 6 August 2023. The Daily Telegraph.
  4. Web site: Young Gun: Tom Willis – Wasps No.8. The Rugby Paper. 6 August 2023. 16 September 2016.
  5. Web site: 2018 World Rugby U20 Championship squad . BBC Sport . 4 September 2020 . 21 May 2018.
  6. Web site: World Rugby U20 Championship: England lose out to France in final. BBC Sport . 17 June 2018 . 4 September 2020.
  7. Web site: World Rugby U20 Championship: England grab last-gasp win over Ireland. BBC Sport . 17 June 2019 . 4 September 2020.
  8. News: Baldock. Andrew. 14 November 2017. Wasps feature interview: Jack Willis. Coventry Telegraph. 6 August 2023.
  9. News: Pilnick. Brent. 24 October 2020. Premiership Final: Exeter beat Wasps 19-13 to secure historic double. BBC Sport. 6 August 2023.
  10. Web site: Bridge . Bobby . 2022-10-17 . Wasps' administration confirmed as 167 employees made redundant . 2022-10-20 . CoventryLive . en.
  11. Web site: Tom Willis finally has a new club after leaving Wasps. Ruck. 7 November 2022. 11 December 2022.
  12. News: Gain-line dominating Tom Willis was always destined for England. subscription. Charlie. Morgan. The Daily Telegraph. 4 August 2023. 6 August 2023.
  13. Web site: Tom Willis: Saracens sign former Wasps back row. BBC Sport. 12 January 2023. 6 August 2023.
  14. News: Mann-Bryans. Mark. 30 June 2023. England announce Rugby World Cup training squad as Owen Farrell named captain. The Independent. 6 August 2023.
  15. News: Griffiths. Gareth. 5 August 2023. Wales 20-9 England: Warren Gatland's side defeat disappointing England in warm-up. BBC Sport. 6 August 2023.