Willis admits waking up in bed crying as he comes to terms with losing his job
England flanker Jack Willis has opened up on the devastation of having his career plunged into uncertainty by the demise of Wasps.Speaking from Jersey, where he is part of the group preparing for next month’s autumn internationals against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, Willis told of how he and “stunned” club colleagues were informed that they would be made redundant as Wasps entered administration.The 25-year-old does not yet have a new club lined up and explained that the possibility of not being able to play with his brother, Tom, has been particularly hard to bear.”It was pretty shocking for everyone in the room,” Willis said of the fateful meeting at Wasps’ training base on October 17, hours after he was named in the England squad.”I think we were just expecting to be told that administration was official, not that we were all made redundant. But obviously those decisions had to be made and the administrators were in charge at that point. Immediately, it was probably one of the strangest atmospheres I have ever been in in that room. Pretty sad, was probably the main thing.”We were stunned at the beginning and it hit when they said it was the end of the update. We asked a couple of questions and once everyone stood up and went to head out, it sunk in a little bit. But it still hasn’t really sunk in fully, to be honest with you.”
Having been provided with running drills by England’s conditioners, Willis did not return home straightaway following the announcement of job losses at Wasps. When he did, however, his partner, Megan, and 10-month-old son Enzo were hugely supportive.
“I was reluctant to go back through the door because I didn’t really want to cry for the 20th time that afternoon,” Willis said. “Little Enzo doesn’t care. He just wants to run up to me and give me a cuddle. Well sometimes it’s a cuddle and sometimes he’d be causing carnage. But he puts a smile on my face every single day. And my partner Megan’s brilliant. She’s really brilliant so I’ve been lucky.” Willis described a potential split from his younger brother as “the hardest part” of the experience and admitted that Megan has been woken up by him crying in bed. Last week, Willis posted a montage of photographs on Instagram and Tom, another of the Premiership’s most promising back-rowers, featured prominently.”Seeing some pictures of Tom and I over the years when I was scrolling back through photos was incredibly difficult,” he said.”Putting together a post took me a couple of days. It was entertaining waking Megan up at seven in the morning blubbering looking at my phone! I look back on some of the photos at the memories we’ve created – they’ll last forever. “In some of the pictures we have a bit more puppy fat on us, slightly chubbier cheeks. We went from playing an academy game together to playing in the A League together, playing in the Premiership Cup, playing in the Premiership together, playing in a Premiership final together. It was an incredible journey.”We didn’t end it how we’d have liked to. I think we were building something which over the coming years we could have achieved real success. There’s lots of special memories day to day, not just with Tom. There are lads I joined the club looking up to, the likes of Dan Robson and Joe Launchbury, who I’d now call best mates.”It’s a strange career. You imagine being able to play alongside them and, before you know it, your families spend time together. It’s a weird thing, rugby. That’s why it’s so special.”
Although a lack of salary cap space around the Premiership, as well as the downfall of Worcester Warriors, has made it more difficult for former Wasps players to find new clubs, this week has seen more of them pick up contracts. On Thursday it was announced that Vincent Koch and Paolo Odogwu would both join Racing 92 as injury jokers. Exeter Chiefs, meanwhile, have brought in hooker Dan Frost. Charlie Atkinson, the 21-year-old fly-half, is also out in Jersey to train with England as he considers options.Willis came off the bench for England in their third and final Test against Australia in July as a 21-17 win sealed a 2-1 series victory. He knows that some former Wasps team-mates may have to retire, given the dearth of jobs available, and described himself as “incredibly grateful” for another international call-up.”In this scenario it’s given me such an incredible positive focus,” Willis said. “I want to play for England more than anything. I’ve got the opportunity to learn around these fantastic players, fantastic coaches, otherwise I’d be just running around a field on my own at the moment until I find a club.”I feel very lucky to be here. Whilst I’m here, I’m focused on what’s going on in England camp. That’s the reason we have agents. They can do the work behind the scenes and I can focus wholeheartedly on trying to get selected and add to the squat over the next four weeks.”