As Britain said farewell to one of its greatest ever sportsmen on Saturday night, Jonny Wilkinson bowed out of the Millenium Stadium a champion once again. After Toulon’s comprehensive 23-6 victory over the Saracens in the Heineken Cup final, Wilkinson joined an exclusive club including his former England colleague Martin Johnson and Irishman Leo Cullen as the only men to captain their clubs to successive Heineken Cup titles. Once again Wilkinson’s boot did the work as just as in the semi-final victory over Munster, his faultless goal-kicking – allied with another barnstorming man-of-the-match performance by Steffon Armitage – pushed Toulon over the line. As Wilkinson hoisted the famous old trophy above his head, this was a fitting end for a man who has seen his fair share of success and disappointment.

22nd November 2003. A day no English rugby fan will forget as a fresh-faced Wilkinson conjured up one of his trademark drop-goals in extra-time to settle the tightest of test matches and win the World Cup for England. A victory which caused Rugby Union’s profile to soar in England as thousands and thousands of people came out in force to salute their rugby heroes as they paraded the trophy on an open-top bus on their return from Australia. As the

match-winner Wilkinson got a reception befitting a king on his return, a response at odds with his humble shy personality. At just 23 years of age, and after Premiership and Six Nations triumphs with his club and country respectively, he had already reached the pinnacle of world rugby and the future looked bright.

However, for a long time, that night in Sydney seemed a distant memory as Wilkinson’s career became ravaged by injuries. His long spells on the side-lines were soon felt by the national team as they failed to recapture their form that made them World champions. Despite playing very little rugby due to his injuries, Wilkinson was called up to the British and Irish Lions squad for the second time, for the tour of New Zealand in 2005, and incredibly made his first international appearance since the world cup final on 23rd May in a Lions warm-up match against Argentina in Cardiff. Wilkinson played in two of the

three tests as the Lions were utterly humiliated by the All Blacks, comprehensively losing all three of the test matches. On his return, however he once again struggled with injuries until something of a renaissance occurred in 2007.

After a relatively injury-free season, Wilkinson travelled to France with England as they looked to defend their world crown. After missing half of England’s group games, Wilkinson returned to help England progress to the quarter-finals where they played the old enemy Australia in a rematch of the 2003 final. As Australia looked for revenge, once again Wilkinson was the scourge of the Wallabies as he kicked all the points as England narrowly overcame their rivals 12-10 to reach the semi-final. After another narrow victory over France in the semi-final, England found themselves on course to become the first rugby nation to successfully defend a world cup. Despite this the title eluded them as South Africa took England’s crown in a 15-6 victory. Wilkinson scored all of England’s point and in the process became the only player in history to score points in two world cup finals. As England returned with pride restored to the national jersey, Jonny was back!

Two years later and after 12 years with the Newcastle Falcons, Wikinson decided to join French Top 14 side Toulon. Due to the RFU’s insistence that players outside of England not be considered for international selection, the decision looked to leave Wilkinson’s international career at a stand-still. However after continuing to impress for Toulon, the fly-half was brought back in from the international wilderness and was soon on his way to his fourth world cup in New Zealand in 2011. The tournament proved an unmitigated disaster as poor performance and off-field controversies saw England tumble out of the competition at the quarter-final stage, going home with their tails firmly between their legs. The farcical episode eventually led to Wilkinson retiring from international rugby after 91 appearances.

The last few years of Wilkinson’s career have proved a welcome return to the glory days of his early career as he completed his personal haul of trophies by finally winning the Heineken Cup and then defending the trophy this year.

As Wilkinson competes in his final match in the Top 14 final this weekend, he will fondly be remembered as one of the greatest fly-halves to play the game. The best of his generation alongside New Zealand’s Dan Carter, despite lacking Carter’s pace and skill as a running fly-half, Wilkinson has more than made up for that with his superb goal-kicking, passing and tackling game. However to highlight Wilkinson the player alone, is to diminish his reputation as one of the great gentleman of the game. Never one to shout from the roof-tops, there was never any ego with Wilkinson as he wasn’t interested in the trappings that elite sportsman seem obsessed with nowadays. It was never just about him as he always spoke about the team before himself and seemed slightly embarrassed by the adulation he rightfully received. To him rugby was all that matters

and coming on to the rugby scene just as the sport became professional, Wilkinson has proved an ideal role model for young kids looking to play the game at the highest level with his devotion to practicing his sport perhaps his greatest attribute. A two-time British and Irish Lion, a World cup, Heineken cup and Premiership winner, Jonny Wilkinson will go down not only as one of the greatest ever rugby players, but also an all-round, honest, decent bloke.