Jonny Wilkinson OBE
Wilkinson at training in February 2007
Personal information
Full name	Jonathan Peter Wilkinson
Date of birth	May 25 1979 ( 1979-05-25) (age 29)
Place of birth	Frimley, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Height	5 ft 10 in (1. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. February 2007 is the second month of the year It began on a Thursday and 28 days later ended on a Wednesday. Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Frimley is a small English town situated 2 miles (3 km south of Camberley, in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located 78 m)
Weight	13 st 12 lb (88 kg)
School	Lord Wandsworth College
Occupation(s)	Professional rugby union footballer
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fly-half, Inside Centre
Amateur clubs
	Farnham
Professional clubs		Caps	(points)
1997-	Newcastle Falcons	156	(1,907)
National team(s)
1998- 2001-2005	England British Lions	70[1] 6	(1,032) (67)

Jonny Wilkinson practising his conversions before England vs. Lord Wandsworth College, often abbreviated to LWC, is a medium-sized Independent school in Hampshire Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 A cap is an appearance for a select team such as a school county or international team in sports The Newcastle Falcons is a Rugby union team currently playing in the Guinness Premiership. The following is a list of international Rugby union teams The England national rugby union team represents England in Rugby union. The British and Irish Lions (until 2001 known as the British Isles Rugby Union Team or "British Lions" Rugby union side comprises a pick of the best players from Italy on 2nd October 2007. Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Jonathan Peter Wilkinson OBE (born 25 May 1979 in Frimley, Surrey) is an English rugby union player and member of the England national team. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Frimley is a small English town situated 2 miles (3 km south of Camberley, in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short The England national rugby union team represents England in Rugby union. From 2001-2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Wilkinson rose to fame and was acknowledged as one of the world’s best rugby players. The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby union world cup and was won by England. ^[2] He was an integral member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup winning England squad, scoring the winning drop goal in the last minute of extra time against Australia. A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of Football. It involves someone dropping a ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground He plays his club rugby in the Guinness Premiership for Newcastle Falcons. The English Premiership (known as the Guinness Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Guinness) is a professional league competition for Rugby The Newcastle Falcons is a Rugby union team currently playing in the Guinness Premiership. Wilkinson has also toured twice with the British and Irish Lions, in 2001 and 2005, scoring 67 Test points in the 6 Lions test matches he has started. The British and Irish Lions (until 2001 known as the British Isles Rugby Union Team or "British Lions" Rugby union side comprises a pick of the best players from

Due to a litany of injuries — variously, of the knee ligaments, arm, shoulder and kidney — he did not appear again for England after the World Cup until 1,169 days later in their opening game of the 2007 Six Nations Championship against Scotland on 3 February 2007. The knee is the lower extremity Joint connecting the Femur, Patella, and the Tibia. In Anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote three different types of structures Fibrous tissue that connects Bones to other bones In Anatomy, an arm is one of the Upper limbs of an animal The term arm can also be used for analogous structures such as one of the paired upper limbs In Human anatomy, the shoulder joint comprises the part of the body where the Humerus attaches to the Scapula. The kidneys are complicated organs that have numerous biological roles The 2007 RBS 6 Nations Championship was the eighth series of the Rugby union Six Nations Championship and was won by, on points difference ^[3] In his comeback England match, Wilkinson scored 27 points in the game (a record in the Calcutta Cup) and was awarded Man of the Match. The Calcutta Cup is a Rugby union Trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland ^[4] The following week against Italy, he became the highest point-scorer in the history of the Five/Six Nations Championship. For the rugby sevens side see Italian national rugby union team (sevens The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of The Six Nations Championship (referred to as RBS 6 Nations for sponsorship reasons known before 2000 as the Five Nations Championship, is an annual international On 6 October 2007, he also became the highest point-scorer in the history of the World Cup, kicking four penalties to overtake Scotland's Gavin Hastings in a quarter final against Australia. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Andrew Gavin Hastings OBE (born 3 January 1962 in Edinburgh) is a former Scottish Rugby Union player In the 2008 Six Nations in the match against Italy he became the first English player (and second overall) to score 1000 test points. He is also the world record drop goal scorer in international rugby with a total of 29^[5]. A drop goal, also referred to as a dropped goal or field goal, is a method of scoring points in Rugby union and Rugby league. In March 2008, he became the international rugby record points scorer, overtaking Neil Jenkins of Wales^[6]. Events in March American Red Cross Month Fire Prevention month ( The Philippines) Women's History Month ( United 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Neil Jenkins MBE (born 8 July 1971) is a former Rugby union footballer who played fly-half, centre, or full back

Early life

Wilkinson grew up in Cheltenham and started playing rugby early in life, participating in the sport from the age of just four years old, playing for Farnham RFC. His father, Phil, had played rugby union and so did Wilkinson's brother Mark and his cousin Tom Grogan. He began his education at Weybourne Infants School in Farnham, also attending Pierrepont in Frensham, but it was at Lord Wandsworth College that he established his reputation. Lord Wandsworth College, often abbreviated to LWC, is a medium-sized Independent school in Hampshire He played alongside England team mate Peter Richards to take Lord Wandsworth to the semi-final of the Daily Mail national schools competition in 1996. Peter Charles Richards (born 10 March 1978 in Portsmouth) is an English Rugby union player who plays for London Irish. At school, Wilkinson's sporting interests extended to cricket and tennis, as well as rugby. He was an opening bowler and batsman for the school and played for Hampshire schools until rugby demanded much of his summer time as well. He was Captain of Lord Wandsworth 1st XI in 1997. ^[7]

Wilkinson's recognition at national level came when he was sixteen years old, when he was selected for the England under-16 representative team. He made a name for himself when he was part of the English under-18s schools tour of Australia in 1997. On this tour he scored 94 points in only five games. ^[8]

Wilkinson was talent scouted by his school rugby coach, the Falcons coach Steve Bates. The Newcastle Falcons is a Rugby union team currently playing in the Guinness Premiership. Upon leaving school in the summer of 1997, he deferred his studies at Durham University for a year to try full-time rugby union. Durham University is a University in Durham, England. It was founded as the University of Durham (which remains its official and legal name Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short His first season was such a success that his studies still remain on-hold ten years later.

Career

1998-2000

Wilkinson started his career at Newcastle Falcons as an inside centre, competing for a place with international veterans such as Inga Tuigamala, and British Lion Alan Tait. A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 Va'aiga Lealuga Tuigamala MNZM (born September 4, 1969, Faleasiu, Samoa) is a Samoan rugby footballer Alan Tait (born 2 July 1964 in Kelso) is a Scottish rugby footballer and coach He became a fixture in a side that went on to win the 1997/8 Premiership title. By March of 1998 he was in the full England Test squad. Wilkinson began his international career as an unused replacement against Scotland, before coming off the bench, replacing Mike Catt, to play on the wing against Ireland at Twickenham on April 4, 1998; he was aged only 18. The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international Rugby union. The Ireland rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in Rugby union, which is a popular sport throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Twickenham Stadium (usually known as just Twickenham or Twickers) is a Stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) ^[9][8]

He then participated in England’s ‘Tour of Hell’ in June 1998 that saw them suffer heavy defeats to both New Zealand and Australia (who defeated them 76-0). Wilkinson returned to domestic duties by taking over from Rob Andrew, who was made Falcons head coach (later Director of Rugby), as both their fly-half and goal kicker. Christopher Robert Andrew MBE (born 18 February 1963 in Richmond Yorkshire) nicknamed "Squeaky" is a former English A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 Wilkinson became a fixture in the England team, and started in all their matches in the 1999 Five Nations. The Six Nations Championship (referred to as RBS 6 Nations for sponsorship reasons known before 2000 as the Five Nations Championship, is an annual international He also played for the Falcons in their 1999 Tetley’s Bitter Cup final defeat to the London Wasps. The EDF Energy Cup (also known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup) is an English and Welsh Rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring the London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who

Wilkinson played for England in matches against Australia, the United States and Canada as the 1999 World Cup approached. For the American Rugby league team see United States national rugby league team. For the Canadian Rugby league team see Canada national rugby league team. The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup and the first to be held in Rugby union 's professional era. He made his World Cup debut against Italy, scoring one try, converting another six and landing five penalty goals to rack up 32 individual points in the 67-7 win. The Rugby World Cup is the premier international Rugby union competition For the rugby sevens side see Italian national rugby union team (sevens The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of A try is the major way of scoring points in Rugby league and Rugby union. After playing another pool game against the All Blacks, which England lost 30-16, he was rested against Tonga, a match won by England 101-10. The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi (Sea Eagles. Following the quarter-final playoff win against Fiji, Wilkinson was relegated to the bench by head coach for the quarter-final against South Africa. The Fiji National rugby union team is one of the strongest national rugby union teams of the world and the third from Oceania, even still as a second tier nation The South Africa national Rugby union team (commonly referred to as the Springboks in English Springbokke in Afrikaans and Amabokoboko England lost the match by 44-21 and exited the tournament. Woodward refused to expand on his selection choice at the time,^[10] and following the match some commentators blamed the head coach's lack of consistency in team selection as harming England's World Cup bid. ^[11]

The following year Wilkinson played in all five of England's Six Nations matches. The Six Nations Championship (referred to as RBS 6 Nations for sponsorship reasons known before 2000 as the Five Nations Championship, is an annual international England won the championship, however they missed a grand slam after losing their final match against Scotland. In Rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition or when a touring side The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international Rugby union. Wilkinson then toured South Africa with England in June of 2000, kicking all of the points in their 27-22 win in Bloemfontein. He was then capped another three times for England during the end of year internationals.

2001-2002

The following year began with England's title defence of the Six Nations title. After the opening win over Wales, Wilkinson set an individual Six Nations points scoring record with 35 points against Italy at Twickenham on February 17, to overtake the record of his Newcastle Falcons mentor, Rob Andrew. Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori The Newcastle Falcons is a Rugby union team currently playing in the Guinness Premiership. Christopher Robert Andrew MBE (born 18 February 1963 in Richmond Yorkshire) nicknamed "Squeaky" is a former English England won all their subsequent matches during the tournament, with the exception of the Irish match, which was postponed until October.

More success followed for Wilkinson after the Six Nations, as the Falcons won the Powergen Cup: a late Newcastle try saw them defeat Harlequin F.C. by three points, by 30-27. The EDF Energy Cup (also known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup) is an English and Welsh Rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring the The Harlequin Football Club (The Harlequins or Quins for short is an English Rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby As a result of Neil Jenkins suffering a number of injuries and a dip in form, Wilkinson was picked as the first choice fly-half and goal kicker for the 2001 British Lions tour to Australia in July. Neil Jenkins MBE (born 8 July 1971) is a former Rugby union footballer who played fly-half, centre, or full back In 2001 the British and Irish Lions Rugby union side toured Australia The Lions won the first test over Australia by 29-13 in Brisbane, in which Wilkinson scored nine points through his kicking. Brisbane ( is the state capital of Queensland. Brisbane is the third most populous city in Australia and the most populous city of Queensland

The second test, on July 7, saw the Lions lose 35-14 at the Telstra Dome. Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Docklands Stadium, known as Telstra Dome, and originally as Victoria Stadium and Colonial Stadium, is a multi purpose sports and entertainment Wilkinson was blamed by many for throwing a long pass inside his 22 that was intercepted by Joe Roff: this was seen as the turning point in the match, and probably the test series. Joe Roff (born 20 September 1975) is a retired Australian Rugby union footballer and a product of the Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Union During the match, Wilkinson injured his leg and was stretchered off the pitch. The injury was thought to be particularly serious, but he made a full recovery before the Third and final test on July 14th. Wilkinson’s try at the start of the second half ensured that, along with his kicking scores, he equalled the Lions' best individual scoring total in a Test, with 18 points.

The incomplete 2001 Six Nations Championship was concluded in October, with England playing Ireland. England lost 20-14 at Landsdowne Road. Location The stadium is situated in the neighbourhood of Ballsbridge in the city's Dublin 4 area Both Ireland and England had won four out of the five Six Nations fixtures, but England’s superior points difference ensured they clinched the title although, for the second year running, not the Grand Slam.

In a match against Australia for the Cook Cup in November, Wilkinson scored all of England's points in their 21-15 victory at Twickenham. The Cook Cup is a Rugby union trophy that is contested between Australia and England. After being rested as an unused bench replacement in the subsequent match against Romania, he then played a large role in a win over the Springboks, in which he kicked seven penalty goals in the 29-9 victory.

Going for a third Six Nations title in a row, England got off to a good start to their 2002 Six Nations Championship with wins over Scotland and Ireland, before losing to France in Paris. The 2002 Six Nations Championship was the third series of the Six Nations Championship. England won their remaining fixtures against Wales and Italy but France went on to complete a grand slam. The Falcons were in Pool 6 in the 2001-02 Heineken Cup, and won one match, finishing fourth in the pool.

In the November 2002 end-of-year tests England faced Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in subsequent weekends.

Wilkinson played a large role in England's match against the All Blacks. He scored a Try (although he commented later that the chip he kicked over the New Zealand defence was in fact meant for Jason Robinson to receive),^[12] kicked two successful conversions and three penalty goals, as well as a Drop goal. A try is the major way of scoring points in Rugby league and Rugby union. Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE (born 30 July 1974 in Leeds, West Yorkshire) is a former English international Rugby union and Rugby league A drop goal, also referred to as a dropped goal or field goal, is a method of scoring points in Rugby union and Rugby league. England then faced the then Tri Nations Series champions Australia, who came to Twickenham on the back of a loss to Ireland. The Tri Nations is an annual international Rugby union series held between the national teams of Australia (the Wallabies) New Zealand (the Twickenham is a suburb in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south west London. Two tries by winger Ben Cohen and Wilkinson's kicking accuracy saw England come back from a 19-31 deficit to defeat Australia by a single point in a 32-31 victory. Ben Cohen MBE (born 14 September 1978 in Northampton) is an England rugby union international England went into the last test against South Africa with the possibility of beating the Big Three rugby nations of the Southern Hemisphere on subsequent weekends.

England defeated the Springboks by 53-3, putting a record 50 more points on the former World Champions. The very physical match saw Wilkinson leave the pitch with a dislocated left shoulder. Springbok Jannes Labuschagne was sent off early in the match for a late tackle on Wilkinson. The England camp believed that Wilkinson was targeted by South Africa during the game. ^[13] Matt Dawson later wrote in his autobiography, “Nine Lives”, that he felt South Africa came to Twickenham with the aim of injuring the half-backs (Wilkinson and Dawson) and Jason Robinson. Matthew James Sutherland "Daws" Dawson MBE (born 31 October 1972 in Birkenhead) is a now retired English Rugby union Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE (born 30 July 1974 in Leeds, West Yorkshire) is a former English international Rugby union and Rugby league ^[14]

2002-2003

The opening match of the 2003 Six Nations Championship saw France, the reigning champions and grand slam winners, play England. The 2003 Six Nations Championship was the fourth series of the Six Nations Championship. Both teams were high in confidence, following successes in their end of year tests against nations from the Southern hemisphere. Many saw this game as the tournament decider and England won the match 25-17. Now considered favourites to win the tournament, as well as possibly a Grand Slam, England defeated Wales, Italy and Scotland. For the game against Italy, Wilkinson was chosen as the captain of the squad for the first time in his England career, as Martin Johnson was unavailable due to the birth of his first child. Martin Osborne Johnson CBE (born 9 March 1970 is a former Rugby union footballer who represented and captained England and Leicester.

The final match was against Ireland at Lansdowne Road and would determine the tournament, and Grand Slam winner of 2003. Location The stadium is situated in the neighbourhood of Ballsbridge in the city's Dublin 4 area By putting more than 40 points on their opponents, winning 42-6, England became the 2003 champions and serious contenders for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Australia. The Rugby World Cup is the premier international Rugby union competition For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Wilkinson was named Man of the Match, displaying his trademark accurate kicking and strong defensive skills.

After the Six Nations, England commenced a tour to the Southern Hemisphere, to play New Zealand and Australia in June. On June 14 and in difficult weather conditions, Wilkinson scored all 15 points as England beat New Zealand 15-13 in Wellington. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the He was also a major force in their 25-14 win over Australia a week later. With England's 45-14 win over France in September, in which Wilkinson scored 18 points, England were now considered one of the favourites at the World Cup, set to start in October.

England's first match at the 2003 World Cup was at Subiaco Oval in Perth, where they defeated Georgia 84-6, with Wilkinson scoring 16 points from his goal kicking. Subiaco Oval, known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. He played a major role in the pool match against the Springboks, in which he scored 20 of England’s 25 points, in the victory which held their opponents to just six. The subsequent match against Samoa in Melbourne was surprisingly close for the number one ranked rugby nation against a supposed “minnow” of international competition, but England pulled off a 35-22 win. Wilkinson was rested for England's final win against Uruguay. England finished at the top of pool D, four points ahead of South Africa.

England moved into the quarter finals, where they met Wales at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Brisbane ( is the state capital of Queensland. Brisbane is the third most populous city in Australia and the most populous city of Queensland Wilkinson scored 23 points in the match, which England won 28-17 to proceed to the semi-finals. England met France, whom they had beaten earlier that year on two occasions. England won 24-7, with Wilkinson scoring all of England’s points through his kicking. In the final versus Australia, with the scores level at 17-17, Wilkinson kicked a drop goal in extra time with just 26 seconds remaining. England won 20-17. The last time Australia had lost a World Cup match was eight years earlier in the 1995 quarter-finals, when Wilkinson's mentor Andrew scored a drop goal at the stroke of full time to win the game for England. The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in Rugby union. The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted by South Africa, and had the distinction of being the first Rugby World Cup in which every match Christopher Robert Andrew MBE (born 18 February 1963 in Richmond Yorkshire) nicknamed "Squeaky" is a former English A drop goal, also referred to as a dropped goal or field goal, is a method of scoring points in Rugby union and Rugby league. The England national rugby union team represents England in Rugby union. After the match, Wilkinson expressed his relief at converting the winning drop goal, as it was his first success in four attempts during the match. The win gave England its first ever World Cup, and broke the southern hemisphere's dominance of the tournament in the process. Wilkinson also became the tournaments leading points scorer with 113 points.

However, the Australian media did not take the loss well with one newspaper bluntly stating "Good to see the back of you, Jonny" as the caption of a photo of Wilkinson leaving the pitch. Other publications in the southern hemisphere, such as those in New Zealand and South Africa, expressed similar discontent, particularly at England's pack-oriented, “winning ugly” style of play. He was voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and also named the 2003 IRB World Player of the Year. In the same year he became the youngest ever rugby union player to receive a New Year's Honour with an MBE (he was listed prior to England's World Cup victory), and an OBE which he was awarded in 2004. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V.

2004-2005

Within a couple of weeks of winning the World Cup he was found to have had a broken facet in his shoulder and missed the 2004 Six Nations and the disastrous tour of New Zealand and Australia. In Human anatomy, the shoulder joint comprises the part of the body where the Humerus attaches to the Scapula. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Wilkinson was named Captain of the England team on 4 October 2004, replacing Lawrence Dallaglio who had resigned five weeks earlier. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Lawrence Bruno Nero Dallaglio, OBE (born August 10, 1972, in London) is a retired English Rugby union player and However, he was kept out of the 2004 autumn internationals by a haematoma in his upper right arm, the captaincy being taken over by Jason Robinson and then Martin Corry. A hematoma, or haematoma, is a collection of Blood outside the blood vessels generally the result of Hemorrhage, or more specifically Internal bleeding Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE (born 30 July 1974 in Leeds, West Yorkshire) is a former English international Rugby union and Rugby league Martin Edward Corry MBE (born 12 October 1973) is an English Rugby union footballer who plays number eight, blindside In January 2005 he injured his medial knee ligament in a match against Perpignan. Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais ( French) or Unió Esportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà ( Catalan) generally abbreviated as USAP in He missed the opening matches of the 2005 Six Nations Championship and on his return to Newcastle on 13 March 2005 he injured the same knee again. The 2005 RBS 6 Nations Championship was the sixth series of the Six Nations Championship to be held since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

In almost 18 months, he had played a total of only 937. 5 minutes of competitive rugby union, but was nonetheless given a chance to prove his fitness for the 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand. Initially Wilkinson was left out of the 44-strong squad which was announced by Clive Woodward on April 11, 2005. Sir Clive Ronald Woodward (born 6 January 1956 at Ely in Cambridgeshire) is a former English Rugby union international who Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. However, on 8 May Woodward announced he had added the fly-half to the squad after Wilkinson had proved he was injury-free and fit. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Wilkinson made his first international appearance since the 2003 World Cup final on 23 May at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff as the Lions played Argentina. Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne The Millennium Stadium (Stadiwm y Mileniwm is the National stadium of Wales, located in the capital Cardiff. Cardiff ( 'kɑːdɪf) is the Capital and the largest city and county in Wales. The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international Rugby union matches Wilkinson, along with the rest of the team, played poorly, but kicked a conversion and six penalties; he salvaged a 25-25 draw with the last kick of the game.

He made his first full international appearance since the 2003 World Cup in the Lions' first Test against New Zealand, starting at inside centre instead of his normal fly-half position. The All Blacks are New Zealand's national team in Rugby union, the country's National sport. A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 Wilkinson scored the Lions' only points in their comprehensive 21-3 defeat. In the second Test, another heavy loss, he started in his normal role of number 10, but suffered a stinger injury, which ruled him out of the Third Test. In Medicine, a stinger, also called a burner or nerve pinch injury, is a minor Neurological injury suffered by athletes mostly in Wilkinson was replaced by Stephen Jones in the final test. Stephen Michael Jones (born 8 December 1977 in Aberystwyth) is a Welsh Rugby union footballer who plays at for Llanelli

Wilkinson had to forgo participation in the Falcons' August pre-season games in Japan due to appendicitis. Appendicitis (or epityphlitis) is a condition characterized by Inflammation of the appendix. Then, after having appeared in five successive matches for Newcastle, the injury litany continued in late November with surgery for a sportsman's hernia, which he himself associated with the strain of his heavy training sessions, often involving two (or more) hour kicking-sessions. A hernia is a protrusion of a tissue, structure or part of an organ through the muscular tissue or the membrane by which it is normally contained

2006-present

After an absence of more than two months, Wilkinson was named on the bench for the premiership game against London Irish on February 12, 2006, but did not make an appearance. For the British Army regiment see London Irish Rifles London Irish (also known as The Exiles) is an English Rugby Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Wilkinson pulled out of training the following Tuesday and was reported to be suffering "an acute injury to his right adductor". In March, he told Rugby World Magazine that he was confident his best rugby was still ahead of him, despite critics and pundits asking whether Wilkinson would ever regain the form and confidence he possessed before his string of injury setbacks. Rugby World Magazine is the world's top selling Rugby union magazine and is released monthly with versions for different regions

Wilkinson was selected on the bench for the match against Guinness Premiership leaders Sale Sharks at Kingston Park on Sunday, April 16 and he played all of the second half. The English Premiership (known as the Guinness Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Guinness) is a professional league competition for Rugby Sale Sharks are a professional Rugby union team who play in England in the Guinness Premiership. Kingston Park is a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne 6 km north west of the city centre Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom He then played the last 50 minutes in the European Challenge Cup semi-final defeat against London Irish on April 23, but ended the match limping. The European Challenge Cup in Rugby union, known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005 is the junior competition to For the British Army regiment see London Irish Rifles London Irish (also known as The Exiles) is an English Rugby Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at

Rob Andrew, then Director of Rugby at Falcons (Andrew has since been appointed Director of Elite Rugby for the English Rugby Football Union), said subsequently that there was no chance of Wilkinson going on England's summer tour and that he would be taking the summer off. Christopher Robert Andrew MBE (born 18 February 1963 in Richmond Yorkshire) nicknamed "Squeaky" is a former English The Rugby Football Union (RFU is the Rugby union governing body in England During June of 2006, several Rugby union test sides played fixtures that were mainly contested in southern nations Despite missing two conversions, he demonstrated his playmaker skills in the game against Worcester on April 30, in which he played the whole second half. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Afterwards, Andrew reiterated that Wilkinson should not tour during the summer in order to prolong his recovery period. Wilkinson started as captain in the Falcons last Premiership game of the season on Saturday, May 6, 2006, converting six of his team's eight tries in their 54-19 victory over Leeds Tykes. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Leeds Carnegie is an English Rugby union club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire that currently plays in the National Division One after being relegated

Rob Andrew stated in July, pre-season to the 2006-07 Guinness Premiership, that Wilkinson would be ready to challenge for an England position come the November internationals. Christopher Robert Andrew MBE (born 18 February 1963 in Richmond Yorkshire) nicknamed "Squeaky" is a former English The 2006-07 Guinness Premiership, the top level of club Rugby union in England, started in September 2006 and ended with the final in May 2007 Captaincy of the Falcons was also given to former Wallabies fullback Matthew Burke, a move that Andrew believed would allow Wilkinson to concentrate more on his game and a full return to rugby. Matthew Burke (born March 26 1973 in Sydney) is a retired Australian Rugby union player ^[15] In early August head coach of England, Andy Robinson announced the Elite Player Squad for the 2006/07 season, in which Wilkinson was included. Andy Robinson OBE (born 3 April 1964 in Taunton, Somerset) is a former English Rugby union footballer who played openside flanker ^[16]

During the second game of the 2006-07 Guinness Premiership season against Worcester Warriors on Friday, September 8, Wilkinson was helped from the pitch after 47 minutes with a knee injury incurred when one of his team members fell on him after he was tackled. The 2006-07 Guinness Premiership, the top level of club Rugby union in England, started in September 2006 and ended with the final in May 2007 The Worcester Rugby Football Club are an English Rugby union club Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz A scan confirmed that he had torn the medial ligament of his right knee. He returned to play a full 80 minutes in the 26-21 win against premiership leaders Bristol on Friday, November 3, kicking a conversion, a drop-goal and two penalties. Bristol Rugby is a Guinness Premiership rugby club in Bristol, England. Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. It was reported on November 9 that Wilkinson suffered a lacerated kidney during the match. Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all ^[17] He returned from this injury in the Premiership game against Leicester Tigers on January 27, 2007, coming off the bench after 37 minutes. Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English Rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. Events 98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

On January 29, 2007, Wilkinson was selected at Fly-half in the starting line up for England in their 2007 Six Nations opener against Scotland. Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 The 2007 RBS 6 Nations Championship was the eighth series of the Rugby union Six Nations Championship and was won by, on points difference England comprehensively beat Scotland 42-20 to regain the Calcutta Cup, Wilkinson making an impressive return,^[18][19] scoring 27 points with five penalties, two conversions, a drop goal, and a try. The Calcutta Cup is a Rugby union Trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of Football. It involves someone dropping a ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground ^[20] This broke the previous Calcutta Cup individual record of 24, set by Rob Andrew. Christopher Robert Andrew MBE (born 18 February 1963 in Richmond Yorkshire) nicknamed "Squeaky" is a former English Wilkinson was awarded the RBS Man of the Match as adjudicated by BBC commentator, Brian Moore. The Royal Bank of Scotland plc ( Scottish Gaelic: Banca Rìoghail na h-Alba) is one of the retail banking subsidiaries of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Brian Moore may refer to Brian Moore (commentator (1932-2001 Brian Moore (novelist (1921-1999 Brian Moore (rugby In the following match against Italy at Twickenham, Wilkinson scored 15 points to become the highest individual point scorer in the history of the Five or Six Nations with 421 points. The Six Nations Championship (referred to as RBS 6 Nations for sponsorship reasons known before 2000 as the Five Nations Championship, is an annual international ^[21] Despite another injury scare just before the match against Ireland on February 26 at Croke Park, Wilkinson started, scoring 8 points in the game which England lost 43-13. The Ireland rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in Rugby union, which is a popular sport throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Croke Park (Páirc an Chrócaigh in Dublin, Ireland is the largest sports Stadium in Ireland (fifth largest in Europe) and the principal stadium Wilkinson did not play in the two remaining Six Nations games against France and Wales due to the effects of a cramp that forced him off in the Premiership 38-12 defeat to London Irish on March 3. The France national rugby union team represents France in Rugby union. The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international For the British Army regiment see London Irish Rifles London Irish (also known as The Exiles) is an English Rugby Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian ^[22][23] On April 13, he suffered a rib injury that forced him off during his fourth consecutive appearance for Newcastle in their 19-12 win over Gloucester Rugby. Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople Gloucester Rugby are a professional English Rugby union team situated in the West country city of Gloucester. ^[24]

Despite missing the season's last Premiership game against Bath Rugby, Wilkinson made the England squad for the summer tour and scored 5 points in the first test's record 58-10 loss to South Africa. Bath Rugby (also known as just Bath) is an English professional Rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. The South Africa national Rugby union team (commonly referred to as the Springboks in English Springbokke in Afrikaans and Amabokoboko ^[25][26] He scored 17 points in the second test, which England lost 55-22. ^[27] In the first of three warm up tests before the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, Wilkinson had an impressive game, scoring 17 points (seven conversions and a penalty) in the 62-5 demolition of Wales. The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international Rugby union world championship inaugurated in 1987. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international ^[28]

2007 World Cup

Due to a non-contact ankle injury sustained in training,^[29] Wilkinson was not included in the teams for the opening games of the World Cup against United States and then South Africa. The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international Rugby union world championship inaugurated in 1987. For the American Rugby league team see United States national rugby league team. The South Africa national Rugby union team (commonly referred to as the Springboks in English Springbokke in Afrikaans and Amabokoboko ^[30] He returned to score 24 points in the 44-22 win over Samoa. The national Rugby union team of Samoa is called Manu Samoa (the name of a famous Samoan chief some 10 generations ago ^[31] He helped England to their victory against Tonga which put them through to the quarter-finals. The Kingdom of Tonga is an Archipelago in the south Pacific Ocean comprising 169 islands 36 of them inhabited stretching over a distance of about 800 kilometres (500 miles During England's 12-10 quarter final win against Australia,^[32] in which he scored all of England's points, Wilkinson became the Rugby World Cup's leading point scorer with 231 points, surpassing Gavin Hastings of Scotland. Andrew Gavin Hastings OBE (born 3 January 1962 in Edinburgh) is a former Scottish Rugby Union player He continued to play a major role in England's defence of the World Cup by kicking 9 points, including a last gasp 40-metre drop goal, in their 14-9 semi-final victory over France. ^[33][34] In the World Cup final, on 20 October at the Stade de France, South Africa won the Webb Ellis Cup in a game where Wilkinson slotted home 2 penalties, but missed 2 drop kick attempts. Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony The Stade de France is a Stadium in Saint-Denis, France in the inner suburbs of Paris. The Webb Ellis Cup, also referred to as the "Webb Ellis Trophy" or "Bill" is the main prize of the Rugby World Cup.

The 2008 Six Nations Championship and competition for No. 10 jersey

Going into the 2008 Six Nations Championship, Wilkinson was the obvious choice as England's number 10 and started the first 4 matches. The 2008 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2008 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the ninth series of the Against Wales on February 2nd, 2008, Wilkinson scored 14 points, but England put in a poor display to fall 19-26 after squandering a 10-point lead at half-time. Wilkinson then amassed 27 points in England's next two wins against Italy and France. A disappointing loss against Scotland on March 8th, in which a number of the England squad put in poor performances, raised questions about Wilkinson's inclusion in the starting line-up given the emerging English talents at the number 10 position. 20-year-old Danny Cipriani was the main back up stand-off throughout the tournament (along with Charlie Hodgson), and replaced Wilkinson in the starting line-up for the last match of the tournament against Ireland. Daniel Jerome Cipriani (born 2 November 1987) is a Rugby union footballer who plays fly-half, centre and fullback for London Wasps Charles Christopher Hodgson (born 12 November 1980 in Halifax West Yorkshire) is an English Rugby union footballer This was only the second time in his England career that Wilkinson was dropped to the bench (the first time being for the 1999 Rugby World Cup quarter final match with South Africa for which Paul Grayson was preferred). The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup and the first to be held in Rugby union 's professional era. Paul James Grayson (born 30 May 1971 in Chorley, Lancashire) is the assistant head coach of Northampton Saints Rugby union However, close to the start of the second half during the Ireland match on March 15th, Wilkinson was brought off the bench to replace Toby Flood, thus playing alongside Cipriani at inside centre^[35]. Tobias Gerald Flood (born 8 August 1985, Frimley Surrey) is an English Rugby union player This suggests a possible synthesis to the balance of nurturing up-and-coming fly-halves while incorporating the leading player in the position in recent years into the squad.

Following the Ireland match and speculation about Wilkinson’s future as the England number 10, Lawrence Dallaglio expressed his opinion that Jonny is unlikely to let the position be handed to Cipriani from now on: the element of competition which exists for the place is likely to inspire Wilkinson, rather than discourage him. Lawrence Bruno Nero Dallaglio, OBE (born August 10, 1972, in London) is a retired English Rugby union player and ^[36] Despite competition over his position, Wilkinson ended the 2008 Six Nations as the tournament’s top points scorer, compiling 50 points.

Wilkinson was not considered for Martin Johnson's first England squad (the 2008 summer tour of New Zealand) due to a shoulder injury. Martin Osborne Johnson CBE (born 9 March 1970 is a former Rugby union footballer who represented and captained England and Leicester. The England national rugby union team represents England in Rugby union. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The All Blacks are New Zealand's national team in Rugby union, the country's National sport. He was joined by Danny Cipriani on the sidelines after the Wasps player also missed out due to injury. Daniel Jerome Cipriani (born 2 November 1987) is a Rugby union footballer who plays fly-half, centre and fullback for London Wasps

International Rugby Union records

Wilkinson scored a record 29th Test drop goal against France in the 2008 Six Nations Championship. A drop goal, also referred to as a dropped goal or field goal, is a method of scoring points in Rugby union and Rugby league. The France national rugby union team represents France in Rugby union. The 2008 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2008 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the ninth series of the

His first converted penalty against Scotland on 8th March 2008, took him 3 points past Wales's Neil Jenkins tally of 1090 Test rugby points. The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international Rugby union. The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international Neil Jenkins MBE (born 8 July 1971) is a former Rugby union footballer who played fly-half, centre, or full back This achievement came earlier than expected due to the IRB granting full Test status to the 2005 British and Irish Lions warm-up test against Argentina. The International Rugby Board (IRB is the world governing and law-making body for the sport of Rugby union, and previously for Rugby football. The British and Irish Lions (until 2001 known as the British Isles Rugby Union Team or "British Lions" Rugby union side comprises a pick of the best players from The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international Rugby union matches Two more penalties in the second half took his tally to 1099 points.

Wilkinson holds the Rugby World Cup points record with 249 and is the only player to score points in two World Cup Finals. The Rugby World Cup is the premier international Rugby union competition The Rugby World Cup Final is the most important Rugby union match in the world

Career highlights

Media

Wilkinson occasionally writes a column for The Times, often during periods of high media focus on rugby, such as Six Nations tournaments and Rugby World Cups. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Carisbrook is a major sporting venue in Dunedin, New Zealand. Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Location The stadium is situated in the neighbourhood of Ballsbridge in the city's Dublin 4 area Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) original Wembley Stadium was a football Stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sassanid Empire. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Stadium Australia, presently known as ANZ Stadium, is a multi-purpose Stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush, Sydney Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Millennium Stadium (Stadiwm y Mileniwm is the National stadium of Wales, located in the capital Cardiff. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Westpac Stadium, previously known as WestpacTrust Stadium, is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Docklands Stadium, known as Telstra Dome, and originally as Victoria Stadium and Colonial Stadium, is a multi purpose sports and entertainment Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Stadium Australia, presently known as ANZ Stadium, is a multi-purpose Stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush, Sydney Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, better known as La Beaujoire, is a Stadium in Nantes, France. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Murrayfield is a sports Stadium in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and is the home of Scottish Rugby Union Neil Jenkins MBE (born 8 July 1971) is a former Rugby union footballer who played fly-half, centre, or full back He has also written three books, with the help of ghostwriter Neil Squires, which have been published by Headline. A ghostwriter is a professional Writer who is paid to write books articles stories reports or other content which are officially credited to another person The first, "Lions and Falcons: My Diary of a Remarkable Year", was released in 2001, and followed a turbulent rugby year for him. The diary documented the England rugby player's strike, the Newcastle Falcons winning the Powergen Cup, the 2001 Six Nations Championship and the British and Irish Lions tour at the end of the year. The Newcastle Falcons is a Rugby union team currently playing in the Guinness Premiership. The British and Irish Lions (until 2001 known as the British Isles Rugby Union Team or "British Lions" Rugby union side comprises a pick of the best players from His second, "My World", was released after England's Rugby World Cup win, in early 2004, and was largely picture-based, with less writing than in his previous publication. The writing that it did contain was focussed on his experience of the World Cup, and how his life had altered following the winning drop goal. Finally, in 2005, "How To Play Rugby My Way", which accompanied the BBC series "Jonny's Hotshots", was released. It was largely a coaching/instruction manual, with tips and techniques for rugby playing. It also included small insights to Wilkinson's family life and the relationships which have allowed his rugby playing to flourish.

Personal life

Wilkinson currently lives in rural Northumberland with his brother Mark, who is 18 months older than him. Northumberland is a county in the North East of England. The non-metropolitan county of Northumberland borders Cumbria to the west The first house that Jonny and Mark Wilkinson bought in Northumberland is now inhabited by their parents, Phil and Phillipa.

The Newcastle Falcons' fitness trainer Steve Black has become particularly influential on Wilkinson's rugby career. Wilkinson has previously stated that he respects Black a great deal, and that Black taught him a lot about "values and ethics". ^[37]

Wilkinson says Richard Hill and Mike Catt are his closest friends in the England rugby set-up. Richard Hill MBE (born 23 May 1973 in Surrey) is a former Rugby union footballer who played flanker for Saracens Michael John Catt MBE (born 17 September 1971 in Port Elizabeth) is a South African born English Rugby union In 2001, he also acknowledged his friendships with former hooker Phil Greening and winger Dan Luger to be similarly strong. Phil Greening (born 3 October, 1975 in Gloucester) is a former English Rugby union footballer Daniel Darko Luger MBE (born January 11, 1975) is an English Rugby union player who plays on the RC Nice in France

In his life after rugby, Wilkinson has stated that he wishes to get more involved in coaching, especially children and at "an elite level". ^[38]

Wilkinson is widely known as a teetotaler, but broke that habit after England lost to South Africa in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final. See also Prohibition, Temperance movement Teetotalism (or T-total is the practice and promotion of complete Abstinence from Alcoholic beverages England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The 2007 Rugby World Cup Final was a Rugby union match played on Saturday 20 October 2007 at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis ^[39]

There are rumours that Wilkinson may be leaving his club, Newcastle Falcons after the departure of his good friend, and fitness coach Steve Black. He however dismissed the rumours saying "I love the way the club is heading and I love the club's situation".

His former girlfriend is Sky Sports News presenter Di Stewart. Sky Sports News (SSN is a 24-hour sports news channel in the United Kingdom. Di Stewart (born January 18 1979 in Salford, Greater Manchester) is an English television presenter [1]

Other

• In December 2005, Wilkinson was awarded an honorary doctorate in Civil Law by Northumbria University. Northumbria University is a modern university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England.
• He was the 2003 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
• He was the 2003 International Rugby Board (IRB) International Player of the Year.
• One of Wilkinson's heroes growing up was Walter Payton, the American Footballer. Walter Jerry Payton (July 25 1954 – November 1 1999 was an American football player who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League
• Has the American basketball player Michael Jordan's autograph, addressed to 'Johnny' with an 'h'. Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player and active businessman
• Wilkinson studied French, Biology and Chemistry for his A-levels.
• Wilkinson has also made two DVDs: "Jonny Wilkinson: The Perfect 10" and "Jonny Wilkinson - The Real Story". They were both released in 2003, and feature footage of interviews with Wilkinson and people close to him, matches, media and clips of personal events.
• He has endorsed Hackett, Travelex, Lucozade, the chemist Boots and adidas. Travelex plc is the world's biggest foreign exchange company. Lucozade is an Umbrella name for a series of Energy and Sports drinks WikipediaManual of Style (trademarks, which says "Lowercased trademarks with no internal
• Although he is a generally left-footed kicker, he kicked the World Cup winning drop goal in 2003 with his right foot. Sporting competitions named World Cup include FIFA World Cup (men's football(soccer FIFA Women's World Cup (women's football(soccer
• Jonny Wilkinson appeared with David Beckham in the infamous Kicking It ads for Adidas prior to the Rugby World Cup in 2003
• In the 2006 Christmas themed novel 'It's Cold Outside' a whole chapter is dedicated to the Rugby World Cup Final punctuated with the infamous line 'Love You Jonny' in homage to the winning drop goal

See also

• List of top English points scorers and try scorers
• List of leading Rugby union Test point scorers

References

Further reading

• Wilkinson, Jonny, (2001, 2002). Lions and Falcons: My Diary of a Remarkable Year, Headline Book Publishing, (IBSN 0-7472-4243-7)
• Wilkinson, Jonny, (2004). My World, Headline Book Publishing, (ISBN 0-7472-4276-3)
• Wilkinson, Jonny, (2005). How to Play Rugby My Way, Headline Book Publishing, (IBSN 0-7553-1337-2)h

External links

• Bless Jonny's Boot before the World Cup Final
• "Wilkinson suffers another injury"
• Jonny's official Site
• Newcastle Falcons profile
• Behind the Wilkinson myth
• Adidas.com profile
• England Rugby profile
• itsrugby.co.uk profile
• Jonny Wilkinson photo 1 at sporting-heroes.net
• Jonny Wilkinson photo 2 at sporting-heroes.net
• Jonny Wilkinson photo 3 at sporting-heroes.net
• Quest for perfection still drives Wilkinson
• [http://www.portraitsculptures.com/jonny.htm portrait of Jonny Wilkinson on eve of final 2007

Awards
Preceded by Fabien Galthié	IRB International Player of the Year 2003	Succeeded by Schalk Burger
Preceded by Paula Radcliffe	BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2003	Succeeded by Kelly Holmes