France-based Arundell can play in Six Nations, but not Willis: RFU

MARSEILLE, France : Henry Arundell will be available to play for England in next year's Six Nations, despite joining French club Racing 92, due to the 'special circumstances' rule following the demise of his former club London Irish, RFU CEO Bill Sweeney has confirmed.

Jack Willis, who has signed a contract extension with Toulouse, 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 all went out of business last season.

Arundell, 20, who was left out of the England squad that beat Samoa 18-17 on Saturday despite scoring a record-equalling five tries in the previous match against Chile, joined Racing in July on a one-year contract.

Willis signed for Toulouse last November after Wasps collapsed but was allowed to play for England in this year's Six Nations. After helping Toulouse win the Top 14 title he agreed a three-year contract extension in April.

Willis left the England squad last week after a neck injury ended his World Cup.

"What we said was that any players who were (abroad) as an outcome of their clubs going out of business and needed to find employment overseas as a result and couldn’t get a contract in England – they would be available for the Six Nations in 2024," Sweeney said at a media briefing.

"We believe that will be the case with Henry. We will work very hard with him and with the Premiership so hopefully he can get a contract to come back to England in 2024-25."

England's performance director Conor O’Shea said he hoped the situation with Arundell would be confirmed in the next few weeks.

"To clarify, people like Joe Marchant and Dave Ribbans who have gone abroad (not because