By Mark H
February 3 2007
Very few rugby players become so famous that they're known by just their christian name. Here's one of the few. Meet Jonny, a fly-half from Surrey.
Jonny Wilkinson
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Position | Fly-half |
| Date of Birth | 25/05/1979 | |
| Place of Birth | Frimley, Surrey, England | |
| Height | 5' 10'' | |
| Falcons Debut | ||
| Previous Teams | Farnham Junior Rugby | |
| Honours | British Lions 2001 (5 caps), England (53 caps), U21 |
What else can be said about Jonny Wilkinson that already hasn't been said? With the help of his team mates, he reached the pinnacle of the sport of 22nd November 2003 when he kicked 15 points and ultimately kicked the last minute drop goal that won England the World Cup. Just a month later, he was walking off the Kingston Park pitch 54 minutes into his return game for Falcons against Northampton with an injury that would keep him out of the game for eight months and threaten his career.
Coached by Steve Bates at Lord Wandsworth College, Wilkinson joined Newcastle Falcons as a talented 18 year old and understudy to Rob Andrew. Seven years on Jonny is considered a Falcons veteran and was appointed team captain for the 2002/03 season, and having missed most of 2003/04 through England duties and injury, was re-appointed joint captain alongside Ian Peel for 2004/05.
Jonny's dedication to training is well known, even fitting in a training session on Christmas Day. The hard work definitely pays off as Wilkinson is one of the most accurate goal kickers in the world, and he puts this down to the constant practice.
"When you go into a big international you understand that the game isn't totally dependent on just how much goal-kicking you have done that week, but on all the work you have put in the bank during the past five years." (International Rugby News Dec 2002)
Obviously there is much more to Jonny Wilkinson's game than just his kicking ability. His legendary tackle on France's Emile Ntamack is one of those rugby moments which gets endlessly replayed. While not the most prolific try-scorer his cheeky chip kick try against the All Blacks in November 2002 was a classic. His kicking ability has led him to be England's record points scorer with 817 points (the next nearest to him is Paul Grayson with 400), and he's also got 36 points in his 3 Lions tests.
The comeback started in Connacht on 17th August, and he's taken a full part in the five games since then to date, including 15 points in his Premiership comeback at Worcester, and a further 13 in Falcons' first win at Bath since the championship season of 1997/98.
"Undoubtedly, having not had a break for a while, it has given me a real enthusiasm and an extra motivation. Coming back, there is a real excitement”.
It didn't last long though - injuries against Saracens, Perpignan, and Harlequins wrecked the season, and although Jonny went on the Lions tour, it was as a shadow of his true self. Even now, at the start of 2007, the injuries have continued, with two enforced breaks this season so far meaning that he appeared in just four Premiership games before being recalled to the England team for the first Six Nations match at home to Scotland, 1,169 days after the World Cup Final.
And if that's anything to go on, then we need him to be fit. Twenty seven points, including a try, brought his tally for England to 844 points in 53 matches. We can but hope that the dark days are behind him.
The whole of English rugby is excited.
Profile last updated 03/02/2007. Action photograph courtesy of Newcastle Falcons
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