Lewis Moody believes the RFU should ditch their rule concerning overseas players (Image: PA)
Lewis Moody wants the RFU to scrap their ‘absurd’ stance on selecting overseas players to give a better chance of winning tournaments like the .
Under the current rule, players based at foreign clubs cannot be picked for England unless in exceptional circumstances. It means that is only allowed to select players signed to Premiership teams.
The rule saw Toulouse flanker Jack Willis denied a place in the Six Nations squad, with the 28-year-old ineligible to take part. He has excelled in the Top 14 alongside some of the world’s best players since joining from Wasps in 2022.
However, the current rule means that he will not be considered for England duty unless he returns to the Premiership.
Jack Willis is not eligible for England selection because he plays for Toulouse (Image: GETTY)
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Moody, who won the with England in 2003, believes the rule is ‘absurd’ because it prevents Borthwick from fielding his strongest possible team.
“To not have someone like Jack available for selection is just bonkers, absolutely bonkers,” Moody told . “The biggest tragedy in the game is that the guys playing over in France aren’t having the opportunity to play for Steve Borthwick.
“If the British and Irish Lions pick him, then for me it’s like, what are we doing not allowing our best players to be available for selection for our national team, because some ridiculous rule says our English based players can’t play abroad?
“I just think it’s absurd. Other nations have proved, on numerous occasions, that players can play abroad and come back and play equally well for their country. South Africa is probably the biggest exponent of that.
“I would love to see that too because Jack is a remarkable player. His ability and the breakdown reminds me of [former Australia captain David] Pocock. He was just a piece of granite over the ball and Jack reminds me of him in that sense.
Don’t miss… [NEWS] [GOSSIP]
“Maybe he doesn’t quite have the same all-around game as some of the other back rows out there, but just his ability to be an absolute bloody nuisance in that breakdown can be the difference between winning and losing a game.”
England will go up against Ireland in their Six Nations opener this weekend and Moody believes they will need to be at their very best to earn a statement win over the defending champions.
“It’s just the ability to defensively stop Ireland and then to get over the whitewash themselves,” he added.
“To beat the sides like Ireland, you need to be putting three or four tries on the board to really be in with a shout, because they’re going to do the same to you. It’s a little bit like playing New Zealand.
“You know, whatever happens, they’re going to score against you. If Ireland get ahead, then the game will be done and dusted and it could be done and dusted in the first half but I’d like to think that’s unlikely.”