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Tom Willis set to return to the international stage this summer
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Saracens No.8 Tom Willis is set to run out for the Barbarians against Wales in June.
The 27-year-old has been added to the BaaBaas’ squad ahead of their meeting with Wales at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on June 27.
The Gallagher PREM season finishes the week before, which will end Willis’s time in England as he has agreed to join Bordeaux-Begles next season, but he will remain in London for at least another week in order to play for the side coached by Robbie Deans.
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Willis has not played any international rugby at all this season as his move to the Top 14 was revealed on the eve of Steve Borthwick’s England squad announcement ahead of the Quilter Nations Series.
While he has still technically been eligible to play for England, he has been omitted from any squads as the national team plan for a future without him from next season and beyond.
The eight-cap England international has been sorely missed by England this season, with his absence all the more notable during a lacklustre Guinness Six Nations campaign by Borthwick’s men.
While England have floundered, Willis has racked up the most carries in the PREM this season, the eighth most tackles and the fourth most turnovers. Most staggering of all, however, is the number of defenders beaten. While Freddie Steward in fifth has beaten just three defenders fewer than second place Kalaveti Ravouvou (55 compared to 58), Willis has beaten 92 defenders this season.
The stats are clear to see what a loss Willis has been, but what a gain for the Barbarians as they take on Wales before Steve Tandy’s side embark on the Nations Championship July campaign against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.
The No.8 will be hoping to play at the Allianz Stadium on back-to-back weekends, with the PREM final being played the Saturday before. Sarries must close a seven-point gap between them and Exeter Chiefs in fourth in the final four games of the season in order to give themselves a chance.
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