Jonny Wilkinson Biography And Images

His match-winning kicks led England to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup and 'Wilko fever' took hold. The rugby ace, from dedicated schoolboy to international hero.
Jonny has had a love of rugby since the age of four. His father, Phil, played the game for 22 years, and both Jonny and his brother, Mark, were keen to follow in his footsteps. Jonny grew up in the Hampshire county and was educated at Pierrepont, Frensham and Lord Wandsworth College, Hampshire, and he enjoyed playing cricket and tennis, as well as rugby for his schools. Jonny impressed England rugby selectors, when he took part in the English 18s Schools tour of Australia in 1997, clocking up a spectacluar 94 points in only 5 games. After college, Jonny decided to sign for Newcastle on a two-year contract, after turning down a place at Durham University. Rob Andrew saw his potential and allowed Jonny to play for the England first team, after only just under an hour with the senior rugby team. In his first game for England against Ireland, he broke the records, as Englands’ youngest player this century. He stood in for Mike Catt in England’s 79th minute of their game against Ireland, despite some of the protests against the decision, as a few fans believed he wouldn’t be any good because they hadn’t heard of him.