Lawrence Dallaglio believes now is the time for the RFU to scrap its rule banning overseas-based players from being selected for England.

It is a long-time law that means England cannot pick foreign-based players, ostracising those that ply their trade elsewhere.

One player in this category is Toulouse flanker Jack Willis, and after another standout performance in an Investec Champions Cup victory over Bath, Dallaglio said England no longer have the strength in depth to stand by this policy.

“When you speak to the people at Toulouse, they can’t quite understand why he [Willis] doesn’t get picked for England more because they’ve seen a real gem in there,” Dallaglio said on TNT Sports.

“He’s signed for one more year so he has this season and then up to the end of the 24/25 season.

“I don’t think England have enough quality at the moment to ignore the overseas world as it is – they’ve got to change it.”

England are not alone. New Zealand have a similar law in place, while the likes of Australia and Wales have tweaked their eligibility rules in the past.

Specifically, Australia introduced what became known as the ‘Giteau Law’ in 2015 – named after Matt Giteau – which allowed players to move overseas and still be able to be picked for The Wallabies.

Wales brought in a rule that players with 60 international caps could play anywhere and still be considered for international selection before that was later lowered to 25 caps.

“I know [England head coach] Steve Borthwick wants to change it,” Dallaglio added. “He won’t say it publicly but you have to. We understand why that law was brought in as why Australia had the ‘Giteau Law’ and [Warren] Gatland had ‘Gatland’s Law’.

“The financial landscape of rugby has changed for the foreseeable future in England. I don’t think suddenly there’s going to be a flood of players going over to France or Japan. You have to look at that law.

“With Tom Curry being injured, I don’t think we have anyone with Jack Willis’s skill set in that England squad.

“I’ve looked at the whole back row and I know we don’t. So England are missing out on adding one of the best anchors for the best European team. Why can he not play for England?”

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