Tom Willis: Saracens forward wins Prem player of year before France move

Saracens number eight Tom Willis says he has no regrets about his move to France next season after being crowned Prem player of the year.

Willis beat Leicester fly-half Billy Searle, Bath scrum-half Ben Spencer and Northampton back Tommy Freeman to win the prestigious award.

The 27-year-old Willis has excelled this campaign but has sacrificed his England career in order to join double Champions Cup winners Bordeaux.

“I’ve got no regrets – I’m massively excited,” he told BBC Sport.

“Look at what Bordeaux have achieved in Europe the last two seasons – it’s incredible – and the team I’m trying to get into is incredible.

“I want to try to add to what they are already doing.”

For Willis, it will be a return to Bordeaux where he spent a season following Wasps’ liquidation in October 2022.

He then joined Saracens ahead of the 2023-2024 season and has spent the past three years at the StoneX.

“[The award] means a massive amount, it is a reflection of what Saracens have offered me the last three years,” he added.

“They’ve backed me throughout and filled me with confidence, and that’s freed me up and allowed me to go out and play the rugby I want to play.”

Willis’ team-mate Noah Calouri scooped the breakthrough player of the year, with Northampton boss Phil Dowson director of rugby of the year.