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top-14
Jack Willis could join Antoine Dupont in an exclusive club next week Toulouse flanker was shortlisted for Top 14 Player of the season award for the second consecutive year.
Ex England the international fights against Bordeaux-Begles and France fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and All Black Harry Plummer of ASM Clermont-Auvergne for the award, which will be announced at the Ligue Nationale de Rugby’s Nuit du Rugby ceremony at the Paris Olympics on September 28.
Willis won the award last year and could now become only the second player to retain it after Toulouse team-mate Dupont won back-to-back honors in 2023 and 2024. Victory would also make Willis only the second player to win the award multiple times, with Dupont a three-time winner after his maiden triumph in 2021.
The 29-year-old strengthened his case during another title-winning campaign with Toulouse, captaining the French giants at times before scoring a huge goal in their Top 14 final win over Montpellier. Willis committed 17 turnovers and had four turnovers as Toulouse won 28-20. These two teams will meet again this weekend in the fourth round of the new season.
His performances have kept him among the leading players in French rugby, despite being unable to play in England under the RFU’s overseas selection policy.
LNR will present 13 awards for the 2025/26 season, and the winners will be determined by a combination of votes from players, coaches, referees and the public.
Other nominations:
Breakthrough Player: Fabien Brau-Boirie, Auguste Cadot, Calvin Gourgues.
Pro D2 Player: Setareki Bituniyata, Raymond Nu’U, Michael Ruru.
Elite 1 Player: Carla Arbez, Elodie Fernandez, Mathilde Lazarko.
Men’s Supersevens Player: Leonard Bouscasse, Nathan Gagnac, Marcos Moneta.
Women’s Supersevens Player: Cléo Hagel, Salomé Perraudin, Hawa Tounkara.
French international: Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Matthieu Jalibert, Thomas Ramos.
France Women’s International: Pauline Barrat, Lea Champon, Mathilde Lazarko.
Top 14 employees: Montpellier, Pau, Toulouse.
Pro D2 staff: Colomiers, Provence, Vannes.
Judge: Pierre Brousset, Ludovic Cayre, Luc Ramos.
Try the season: Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Emilien Gailleton, Kalvin Gourgues, Joris Jurand, Jiuta Wainiqolo.
Award for social commitment: Lyon, Racing 92, Bordeaux-Begles.
