Henry Arundell has retained his England eligibility despite a move to French club Racing 92 – and the wing is set to start for the Red Rose against Ireland on St Patrick’s Day. The 20-year-old, who scored a record-equaling five tries in the 2022 World Cup pool match against Chile, will be available to play for England if the RFU’s ‘exceptional circumstances’ rule is invoked, which recognizes players who have moved abroad for financial reasons or because their clubs have gone out of business.
The Rugby Football Union has been criticized for not allowing players who leave the Gallagher Premiership to remain eligible for England. Still, executive director of performance rugby Conor O’Shea said Arundell will qualify. He is expected to have his request to represent England signed off by the RFU’s Professional Game Board within weeks.
England head coach Steve Borthwick is keen to see Arundell make the most of his opportunity to take on Ireland, a side he knows strongly desires to secure a Grand Slam this season and end their run of one win in six games. Arundell replaces Max Malins in the starting XV and will have the chance to add a first Test start to his impressive collection of Under-20 caps, including the stunning try he scored on his senior debut against Australia in the Autumn Nations Series.
Arundell has already made a big impression since making his debut for the Exiles, earning a reputation for being a dangerous fly-half whose powerful running and superb footwork have caused many defenses to crumble in his favor. He was part of the squad that beat Italy in last year’s Under-20 Six Nations and was then handed a start by Borthwick when the winger came on as a replacement against Australia at Twickenham.
Jack Willis, a flanker who was also given a call-up by England this season, is unlikely to feature for the national team in next year’s Six Nations if he continues his move to Toulouse. The former Wasps player has been able to retain his international eligibility because of a special dispensation agreed by the RFU, but that arrangement expires after the World Cup.
The 26-year-old, who has recently signed a contract extension with the Top 14 side, will not be eligible; however, having gone beyond the 12-month window, the RFU introduced in recognition of players having to find new clubs at short notice after Irish Wasps and Worcester went bust. Willis, who has rejected offers from several English clubs to return to the Premiership, will be hoping the work behind the scenes by the RFU and England’s top coaches, such as Borthwick, will lead to a relaxation of the rules around players based outside of the Gallagher Premiership. However, it is unlikely that will be the case.