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Tom Willis (rugby union, born 1999)

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Tom Willis
Birth nameThomas Daniel Willis[1]
Date of birth (1999-01-18) 18 January 1999 (age 25)[2]
Place of birthReading, England[2]
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Weight120 kg (18 st 13 lb; 265 lb)[2]
SchoolHenley College
Notable relative(s)Jack Willis (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8[2]
Current team Saracens
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2022 Wasps 67 (95)
2022–2023 Bordeaux Bègles 19 (15)
2023– Saracens 0 (0)
Correct as of 14 June 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2017 England U18 6 (15)
2018–2019 England U20 17 (20)
2023– England 1 (0)
Correct as of 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

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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]

References

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