Toulon won't stop Wilko

French side to honour agreement

By Tony Curtis   Last updated: 8th July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Toulon won't stop Wilko

Wilkinson: Free to team up with England

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Toulon have confirmed they will not prevent Jonny Wilkinson teaming up with England for their training camps despite clashes with the Top-14 season.

Wilkinson was recalled to England's elite 32-man squad on Tuesday and he is due to team up with Martin Johnson's new-look side on August 9-14 for the first training camp ahead of the autumn internationals.

However that camp clashes with Toulon's opening fixtures of the Top-14 campaign, meaning Wilkinson, who signed a two-year deal at the club in May, will have to delay his debut.

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal insists his, though, will not renege on an agreement he has with the World Cup-winning fly-half and England.

"We have signed a convention with the English federation," Boudjellal told L'Equipe.

Arrangement

"We will not oppose his presence in this training session, nor at any other.

"When we signed him, we knew that it could happen."

Despite the clash of dates, Boudjellal has not given up hope of coming to an arrangement for Wilkinson, who has not played competitively since dislocating his knee playing for Newcastle in October, to play in the opening game.

"He needs to play, he knows that, and it is possible that he negotiates his presence with us," Boudjellal added.

"But once again, in principle, we will not oppose his departure (for England training)."