Biography

Jonny Wilkinson

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Jonny Wilkinson's rise to glory has been very quick. In the space of only 4 years he has become one of the leading International rugby players in the world. He was discovered by his teacher Steve Bates and played cricket and tennis for Hampshire Schools. He first played for Newcastle Falcons and tasted success in their Championship win of 1997/98. He had already turned down a chance of a place at Durham Uiversity and it looked to be a wise choice as he quickly became England's youngest player this century on his debut v Ireland. He scored a tally of 63 points on his World Cup debut in 1999 and created a new points tally record in the 6 Nations Championship in 2000. By 2003 he has become a brilliant fly half for England and a superb place kicker for his team. He helped England to two stunning victories over New Zealand and Australia in their Southern Hemisphere Tour in June 2003.
- IMDb mini biography by: Hasselbaink007

He capped a brilliant 2003 for England by kicking the drop goal that won the World Cup for England, beating great rivals Australia in Australia on November 22, 2003.
He was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2003 Queen's New Years Honours List and the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Rugby Union.
He made his debut for the English rugby team at the age of 18.
He was awarded the 2003 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
He was awarded the 2003 International Rugby Board (IRB) International Player of the Year.

I've been sat there staring at Boris Becker, one of my heroes, for half the evening" - winning the BBC Sports Personality Award 2003
It's been an amazing week and a half, but I'm missing the team environment" - receiving his MBE Insignia
The longest kick he's ever done - "I had one in Newcastle five or six yards behind halfway against the breeze, which was a good one for me. But I suppose my longest international one was against Australia in November, two or three yards behind halfway."
When I'm practising my mind actually tries to put me off by telling me to look at some guy who's walking his dog behind the pitch. Just as I am trying to kick, my mind is sort of trying to put me off! I think I might have a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character trait.
"Playing up in Newcastle you quickly gauge the importance of sport. And certainly in England it's clear that football is so important. There's no doubt that the guy's got to have something special to get through all that intrusion to perform every week like that, so I'm more than happy to be labelled with that tag." - on being called 'The Michael Owen of Rugby'

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