Tuesday, 20 May 2014

Jonny Wilkinson confirms retirement from rugby at end of the season


  • Wilkinson will hang up his boots after the French Top 14 final

  • One of only two players to score 1000 points in international rugby

  • Finest moment came when he won the World Cup for England in 2003

  • Spent 12 years with the Newcastle Falcons before joining Toulon in 2009


By

Mike Dawes



Published:


11:23, 19 May 2014




|
Updated:


20:25, 19 May 2014



Jonny Wilkinson has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season.


The fly-half, most famous for winning the 2003 World Cup for England with a drop goal, made the announcement on the website of his club, Toulon.


The 34-year-old, who will turn 35 the day after Toulon’s Heineken Cup final against Saracens on Saturday, had been widely expected to retire afters reports to that effect emerged two months ago.






End of an era: Jonny Wilkinson will retire at the end of the season


End of an era: Jonny Wilkinson will retire at the end of the season



Top man: Wilkinson won the Heineken Cup with Toulon last season and has reached the final again


Top man: Wilkinson won the Heineken Cup with Toulon last season and has reached the final again




Wilkinson’s international career


England caps: 91
British and Irish Lions caps: 6
World Cup finals: 2
World Cup wins: 1
Test victories: 67
Total Test points: 1,246
Test tries: 7
Test conversions: 169
Test penalties: 255
Test drop goals: 36
Six Nations titles: 4 (2000, 2001, 2003, 2011)
Grand Slams: 1 (2003)


‘I would like to take this opportunity to formally announce my retirement from playing rugby,’ he said. 


‘It

goes without saying that I have an enormous number of people to thank

for their support from all around the world but especially here in

France and in England.


‘This

however is not at all the time to be concentrating on this as I would

like to focus all my attention and energy on the team and these final

two games of the season. 


‘I sincerely thank you all for everything you have given me and for making these last 17 years something I will never forget.’


Defining moment: Wilkinson kicks the winning drop goal to win the 2003 World Cup final against Australia


Defining moment: Wilkinson kicks the winning drop goal to win the 2003 World Cup final against Australia



Pround as punch: Wilkinson and Mike Catt celebrate in the dressing room with the World Cup trophy


Pround as punch: Wilkinson and Mike Catt celebrate in the dressing room with the World Cup trophy


England coach Clive Woodward celebrates with Jonny Wilkinson


Jonny Wilkinson and Clive Woodward


Double act: Wilkinson and Clive Woodward combined to help England to the World Cup in 2003



Rugby reacts


BRIAN MOORE @brianmoore666
Jonny Wilkinson has announced his retirement – what a player; what a man.


RIKI FLUTEY @rikiflutey
Absolute pleasure honour to have played alongside @JonnyWilkinson. thanks for the memories thanks for everything you have done for rugby


TOM MAY @TomMay1
Rugby won’t be the same without @JonnyWilkinson Changed the game. Changed way kids tackle! You will be missed. Pleasure to play with you.


Wilkinson

retires as one of just five men to score 1000 points in international

rugby, with his 1246 second only to New Zealand great Dan Carter.


He

made his debut for Newcastle in 1997 and stayed with them until 2009,

winning the Tetleys Bitter Cup twice in that time. It was during his

days with the Falcons that he came to the attention of then-England

coach Sir Clive Woodward.


The duo would become central to the achievements of the Red Rose and the would enjoy unparallelled success together.


Wilkinson

made his debut as an 18-year-old and, after a chastening experience on

the ‘Tour of Hell’ to Australia, he won the 2000, 2001 and 2003 Six

Nations, with those successes leading to Wilkinson’s signature moment at

the 2003 World Cup.


Back in the day: Wilkinson played for the Newcastle Falcons for 12 years before joining Toulon


Back in the day: Wilkinson played for the Newcastle Falcons for 12 years before joining Toulon



Roar: Wilkinson played for the British and Irish Lions on two tours


Roar: Wilkinson played for the British and Irish Lions on two tours 


His

metronomic boot kicked England to the final and then, against hosts

Australia, he landed the most valuable three points of his life with a

minute of extra-time left, earning his country a 20-17 victory. He ended

the tournament with 113 points.


Injuries

– often caused by his no-holds-barred approach to tackling – would set

in after that and he was never able to be as dominant a force as he once

was in the national shirt, but he still played a key role in taking

England to the 2007 World Cup final, while he won the Six Nations in

2011.


He

retired from international rugby with 91 caps in December 2011, by

which point he was already making a new career for himself in France.


Well-known

as a perfectionist, Wilkinson took his distinctive kicking style to

Toulon in 2009 and immediately became the fulcrum of their side. He won

the Heineken Cup with them last season and this weekend can bow out with

back-to-back victories in the competition.



Jonny Wilkinson fact file


1979: Born Frimley, Surrey, May 25.


1997: Beginning his career with Newcastle, Wilkinson plays for England Under-21s as they beat New Zealand, France and Wales.


1998: Named as substitute for England versus Scotland in Five Nations match against Scotland at Murrayfield at age of 18 years and 301 days. Then makes England debut against Ireland, coming off the bench at Twickenham.


1999: February – Makes first start for England at age of 19 in Five Nations against Scotland and kicks four goals as England win Calcutta Cup match 24-21. Claims Six Nations individual tournament record with 35 points in England’s 80-23 thrashing of Italy.
November – Scores all 21 points as England beat Australia at Twickenham.


2002: May – Suffers ankle ligament damage in Newcastle’s defeat by Gloucester, ruling him out for the rest of the season.


2002: December – Awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.


2003: February/March – Scores 77 points as England clinch Six Nations Grand Slam, finishing as the competition’s top scorer.


2003: November – Wilkinson’s drop-goal deep into extra-time earns England a 20-17 victory over Australia in the World Cup final at Sydney. Also contributed four penalties, the pass to set up England’s try from Jason Robinson, accurate kicking out of hand, and some crunching tackles. Wilkinson had earlier kicked all England’s points in their 24-7 semi-final victory over France.
December – Wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Confirmed he will receive an OBE in the 2004 New Year Honours list.


2004: February – Ruled out of Six Nations and three-Test tour to New Zealand and Australia after shoulder operation.
August – Makes his comeback after eight months out in Newcastle’s pre-season friendly against Connacht in Galway.
October – Confirmed as Lawrence Dallaglio’s successor as England captain for the three November Test matches, but later forced to pull out of the games due to a haematoma in the upper right arm.


2005: January – Suffers knee ligament damage in Newcastle’s Heineken Cup defeat in Perpignan.
March – Suffers medial ligament damage on Newcastle comeback against Harlequins.
November – Has a major operation for related groin problems.


2006: January – Suffers a torn adductor muscle.
April – Finishes the season with Newcastle, playing in Premiership games against Sale, Worcester and Leeds, plus Falcons’ European Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to London Irish.
September – Forced off with knee ligament injury during Newcastle’s home game against Worcester, effectively ending his hopes of playing in the autumn Tests for England.


2007: February – Makes a dream international comeback, scoring a Calcutta Cup record 27 points – including a full house of try, penalty, conversion and drop goal – as England romp to 42-20 victory over Scotland. Also becomes the leading points scorer in Five and Six Nations history with a third-minute penalty against Italy at Twickenham.
October – Kicks all of England’s points as they beat Australia 12-10 in the World Cup quarter-finals. The match sees Wilkinson overtake Gavin Hastings as the World Cup’s all-time leading points-scorer. Also kicks all of England’s points in the final, but they lose 15-6 to South Africa.


2008: February – Becomes first player to pass 1,000 points for England in 23-19 victory over Italy. Overtakes Hugo Porta’s world record with 29th drop goal in Tests as England win 24-13 in France.
March – Overtakes Neil Jenkins as Test rugby’s leading points-scorer in 15-9 defeat by Scotland.
September – Suffers dislocated left kneecap during Newcastle’s Premiership defeat at Gloucester. Ruled out for five months after surgery, missing England’s 2009 Six Nations campaign.


2009: May – Joins French club Toulon.
November – Recalled to the England Test line-up.


2010: March – Regains overall points total record in Six Nations, going past Ronan O’Gara.
October – Ruled out of England’s autumn international programme with a shoulder injury.
December – Signs new two-year contract extension with Toulon, keeping him with the French club through to 2013.


2011: September – Involved in ball-swapping controversy during World Cup win against Romania in New Zealand, which saw two members of England’s backroom staff suspended.
October 8 – After campaign marred by off-field problems, England are knocked out of World Cup by France in quarter-finals. Les Bleus won 19-12 in Auckland.
December 12 – Announces retirement from international rugby.


2012: May 18 – Scores all of Toulon’s points in their 21-18 defeat to Biarritz in Amlin Challenge Cup final.
June 9 – Again scores all of his side’s points as Toulon lose 18-12 to Toulouse in the Top 14 final.


2013: April 16 – Signs one-year contract extension with Toulon, tying him to the French club until the summer of 2014.
May 18 – Kicks 11 points as Toulon win the Heineken Cup Final 16-15 against Clermont Auvergne.
June 1 – Is again on the losing side as Toulon miss out in the Top 14 final to Castres, 19-14.


2014: April 27 – Kicks 21 points to see Toulon through to the Heineken Cup final and a meeting against Saracens, beating Munster 24-16.
May 19 – Announces he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.













Comments (52)


Share what you think



The comments below have not been moderated.





Snaps,


Portsmouth, United Kingdom,


31 minutes ago


It would be a big mistake to think he can step into a top coaching role, straight after he finishes playing.

Let the shipwrecks of others be you steering markers Jonny. Martin Johnson made that mistake, at the instigation of others and it wasn’t good.

Better to get all your coaching badges and start at a low or middle level club. Even a few youth and minis.

If you you can do a good job, then try for the top. Remember, being a great player doesn’t mean you will be a great coach.. But thanks for the memories,





Be honest,


Limerick, Ireland,


12 hours ago


Not as good as Carter





Bigmac,


Christchurch, United Kingdom,


13 hours ago


An absolute legion on the pitch and a complete ambasitor off the pitch. We will miss you!





steve,


Blackburn,


14 hours ago


HARRYTHEMANC = NO CLASS AND NO CLUE






fileep,


staines, United Kingdom,


15 hours ago


Never rated him to be honest. A poor man’s dueuxcetrois





ScouseJay,


Liverpool, United Kingdom,


15 hours ago


Weren’t a big rugby fan until Johnny Wilkinsons drop goal to win the World Cup, that was unbelievable!





Rich,


All Over The Place,


17 hours ago


The King – I don’t think there’s a more humble grateful man ever to grace sport; he’s given us all equally fond memories, including the best of all. Thanks Jonny, you’ll be missed





pgooner,


Overton, United Kingdom,


15 hours ago


Absolutely





Jason,


Bath, United Kingdom,


17 hours ago


Thanks for 2003 Johnny,will never forget that drop goal!





Right winger,


Clearlake TX, United States,


17 hours ago


So long Jonny, thanks for the memories.





null,


17 hours ago


It was him that made me love rugby! That World Cup final…. Legend



The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.



Who is this week’s top commenter?

Find out now


Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/466394/McCall-questions-Strettle-incident


Jonny Wilkinson confirms retirement from rugby at end of the season
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)