Jack Willis used to get stick for running like a washing machine – now he’s looking to leave Exeter Chiefs in a spin – The Sun

JACK WILLIS used to get stick for wearing a 'leotard' to training and running like a washing machine.

But today the pirouetting Wasps sensation will look to leave European champions Exeter Chiefs in a spin in the Premiership final at Twickenham.

The 6ft 3in star, rejected by dad Steve's old club London Irish for being too small, has won every personal award in a breakthrough season.

But his old coach has revealed England's newest poster-boy almost packed in rugby as a kid.

Former Reading Abbey boss Wayne Courtnage told SunSport: "The side was about to fold as we didn't have enough kids.

"Jack was thinking about leaving to play football because one of his good mates was on the books at Southampton.

"But we managed to get six extra lads in, Jack stayed, and we had a hell of a lot of fun.

"When he came back from the London Irish trials he was gutted. But we had some real laughs and Jack is a great character.

"One day he turned up to training in this leotard thing.

"He claimed it wasn't a leotard and was, in fact, his under-garments. We weren't sure if he had been going to the ballet! We all ripped him for it.

"Jack's determination and belief was always outstanding. If you watch him run, we used to say he ran like a washing machine!

"His arms and legs fly around and if he was in the water he could do your washing for you if you chucked it in.

"It's unorthodox but it is so difficult to tackle him as he has his elbows and knees out and is so flexible.

"It's unbelievable to see him doing so well — we are all so proud of him."

Willis has certainly been yards ahead of the rest of the Premiership all season, winning 44 turnovers — 25 MORE than his nearest rival.

Baxter eyes double over Blackett

DOUBLE-CHASING Rob Baxter got the better of Lee Blackett on his last game as a player in 2005.

Today, the Exeter Chiefs boss is looking to do the same in Blackett's first Premiership final.

Asked if he can remember playing against him when he was a centre for National 1's Rotherham, he said: "We won. And I scored a try, didn't I? "I don't remember much about the day apart from we played at a sports arena, which had a running track around it.

"The Don Valley? I don't remember too much about Lee playing on the day but I do remember playing against him on several occasions.

"When you look back there's no better time than when you were a player even when you are winning Heineken Cups. It was an emotional day.

"The boots came off that day and they never came back on, even for training."

Baxter's side have to climb the mountain again in a re-run of the 2017 final, just a week after their first Heineken Champions Cup title.

And the Devon hero added: "I can stand there and say all kinds of things about all the dangers — we all know about it — we've had a huge high.

"Are we going to get back there again? "Are we going to get back and work as hard as we can in the final of the Premiership? If we decide not to, Wasps are going to decide they're going to.

"That will cost us the game. It's taking some personal responsibility.

"They are a good group of guys and still have a couple of days to come to those decisions. The party is on hold until next week."

He is brilliant at nicking the ball at the breakdown and credits part of that to his football days.

The Reading fan, 23, said: "One of the coaches in our age-group was really big on making sure we stretched before sessions.

"I thought OK then I'll keep stretching. It just evolved from there.

"Now I know it's a crucial part of my game and I've got to maintain it and try and improve it.

"In the last few weeks I've felt like there have been more aggressive cleanouts and I've been feeling a bit more targeted in games. It's understandable."

Jack will be joined by young brother Tom, 21, in the Wasps line-up. He added: "Early in my career I got over excited before games and was emotionally exhausted by kick-off.

"So it's about keeping a lid on it now and enjoying this week as they don't come around very often."

WASPS: Minozzi, Kibirige, De Jongh, Gopperth, Bassett, Umaga, Robson. West, Taylor, Toomaga-Allen, Launchbury (c), Rowlands, J Willis, Young, T Willis. SUBS: Oghre, Harris, Alo, Gaskell, Morris, Vellacott, Sopoaga, Le Bourgeois.

EXETER: Hogg, Nowell, Slade, Devoto, Woodburn, Simmonds (c), Maunder, Hepburn, Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Skinner, Hill, Ewers, Kirsten, Simmonds. SUBS: Yeandle, Moon, Francis, Gray, Vermeulen, Hidalgo-Clyne, Steenson, Whitten.

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