Skip to content

Wilkinson Factfile

We look at the long and illustrious career of Jonny Wilkinson after he signed a new deal with Toulon.

We look at the long and illustrious career of Jonny Wilkinson after he signed a new deal with Toulon.

Jonny Wilkinson will go down as one of England's greatest ever players, but his career is not quite over yet, he could well add some more honours to his World Cup-winning CV. Showing some form as good as ever in the Heineken Cup, Wilkinson has showed he has not lost it, as we look back at the fly-half's factfile. 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. April - 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. May - Late addition to the Lions squad for the tour of New Zealand. 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. August - Named in 41-man England elite player squad for the new international season. September - Forced off with knee ligament injury during Newcastle's home game against Worcester, effectively ending his hopes of playing in the autumn Tests. 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. June - Captains England in second Test of disastrous summer tour of South Africa. 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. June - Scores decisive points as England beat Australia in Sydney. 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 7 - Kicks six penalties and a drop goal as Toulon beat Leicester 21-15 to reach the Heineken Cup semi-finals. April 16 - Signs one-year contract extension with Toulon, tying him to the French club until the summer of 2014.

Around Sky