Saracen is an historical term for a certain group of people but the meaning changed during its history. In the early centuries AD in Greek and Latin it referred to a people who lived in desert areas in and near the Roman province of Arabia, and who were specifically distinguished from Arabs.^[1][2] In Europe during the Early Middle Ages, the term began to be used to describe Arab tribes.^[3] By the 12th century, "Saracen" had become synonymous with "Muslim" in Medieval Latin literature. This expansion of the meaning had begun centuries earlier among the Byzantine Greeks, as evidenced in Byzantine Greek documents from the era of the Muslim Umayyad Caliphate.^[4][1][5]

Early usage and origins[link]

Ptolemy's Geography from the second century CE describes Sarakene as a region in the northern Sinai peninsula.^[2] Ptolemy also mentions a people called the Sarakenoi living in north-western Arabia (near neighbor to the Sinai).^[2] Eusebius of Caesarea references Saracens in his Ecclesiastical history, in which he narrates an account wherein Dionysus, Bishop of Alexandria mentions Saracens in a letter while describing the Roman emperor Decius' persecution: "Many were, in the Arabian mountain, enslaved by the barbarous sarkenoi."^[2] The Historia Augusta also refers to an attack by Saraceni on Pescennius Niger's army in Egypt in 193 CE but provides little information on who they might have been.^[6]

Both Hippolytus and Uranius mention three distinct peoples in Arabia during the first half of the third century: the Saraceni, the Taeni and the Arabes.^[2] The Taeni, later identified with the Arabic speaking people called Tayy, were located around the Khaybar oasis north of Medina, and also in an area stretching up to the Euphrates river, while the Saraceni were placed north of them.^[2] These Saracens located in the northern Hejaz appear as people with a certain military ability who are opponents of the Roman Empire and who were characterized by the Romans as barbarians.^[2]

The Saracens are described as forming the equites (heavy cavalry) from Phoenicia and Thamud.^[7] In one document the defeated enemies of Diocletian's campaign in the Syrian desert are described as Saracens. Other 4th century military reports make no mention of Arabs but refer to as Saracens groups ranging as far east as Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) that were involved in battles on both the Persian and Roman sides.^[7][8] They are described in the Roman administrative document Notitia dignitatum—dating from the time of Theodosius I in the 4th century—as comprising distinctive units in the composition of the Roman army and they are distinguished in the document from Arabs and Iiluturaens.^[7]

Medieval usage[link]

An illumination depicting Romans punishing Cretan Saracens, taken from the Madrid Skylitzes, a 12th-century Byzantine manuscript.

An illumination from the Auchinleck manuscript, a 14th-century manuscript which included The King of Tars.

Usage of the term in the Latin West changed as the Middle Ages progressed, but its connotation remained negative and its exact definition continued to be unclear.^[9] In an 8th century polemical work, John of Damascus criticized the Saracens as followers of a false prophet and "forerunner[s] to the Antichrist."^[10] Two centuries later, Europeans perceived Saracens as poor, uneducated idolaters belonging to a group wholly separate from the Arabs who brought Aristotle to the Latin West and the Moors and Berbers fighting Christians in Spain; someone who got all of his or her information on Islam from medieval sources would not conclude the three groups represented one continuous culture.^[9]

Medieval literature and race[link]

By the 12th century, Medieval Europeans had more specific conceptions of Islam and "Saracen" had become a racial and religious marker.^[1][11] In some Medieval literature Saracens—that is, Muslims—are black-skinned, while Christians are fair-skinned. An example is in The King of Tars, a medieval romance.^[12][13] The Song of Roland, an Old French 11th-century heroic poem, takes the association of black skin with Saracens a step further by making it their only exotic feature.^[14]

See Also[link]

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Saracens.

• Byzantine-Arab Wars
• Medieval Christian view of Muhammad
• Mohammedan
• Moors
• Orientalism
• Serkland
• Tatars

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Daniel, Norman. 1979. The Arabs and Mediaeval Europe. Longman Group Limited. ISBN 0-582-78088-8
• Heng, Geraldine. 2004. Empire of Magic: Medieval Romance and the Politics of Cultural Fantasy. Columbia University Press ISBN 978-0-231-12527-7
• Kahf, Mohja. 1999. Western Representations of the Muslim Women: From Termagant to Odalisque. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-74337-3
• Retso, Jan. 2003. The Arabs in Antiquity: Their History from the Assyrians to the Umayyads. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-7007-1679-1
• Tolan, John Victor. 2002. Saracens: Islam in the Medieval European Imagination. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12333-4

Jonny Wilkinson

Full name	Jonathan Peter Wilkinson
Date of birth	(1979-05-25) 25 May 1979 (age 33)
Place of birth	Frimley, Surrey, England
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) [1]
Weight	89 kg (14 st 0 lb) [1]
School	Lord Wandsworth College
Occupation(s)	Professional rugby union player
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fly-half, Inside Centre
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
	Farnham
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1997–2009 2009–	Newcastle Toulon	158 49	(1,938) (646)
correct as of 26 June 2010 (UTC).
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1998–2011 2001–2005	England British and Irish Lions	91 [2] 6	(1,179)6t (67)
correct as of 4 December 2011.

Jonathan Peter "Jonny" Wilkinson OBE^[3] (born 25 May 1979 in Frimley, Surrey) is an English rugby union player and former member of the England national team. Wilkinson rose to acclaim from 2001 to 2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup and was acknowledged as one of the world’s best rugby union players.^[4] 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 in the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final. He then came back from several injuries to lead England to the final of the 2007 world cup. He plays his club rugby union for Toulon following twelve seasons in the English Premiership with the Newcastle Falcons. Wilkinson has also toured twice with the British and Irish Lions, in 2001 to Australia and 2005 to New Zealand, scoring 67 Test points in the 6 Lions test matches he has started. On 3 April 2009 at Guildford Cathedral, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Surrey for services to the sports industry.^[5] He announced his retirement from international rugby union in early December 2011.^[6]

Early life[link]

At the age of twelve, while at Pierrepont School, Frensham, near Farnham, Surrey, Wilkinson told his rugby union master "I want to play for England, that's all I want". He went on to excel not only at rugby union, but also at tennis, cricket, and basketball. From Pierrepont, he moved to Lord Wandsworth College in Long Sutton, Hampshire, where he took A-levels in French, Biology and Chemistry and gained a place at the University of Durham. However, in 1997 he gave up the student life to become a professional rugby union player with the Newcastle Falcons.^[7]

Career[link]

1998–2000[link]

Wilkinson playing for Newcastle

Wilkinson started his career at Newcastle School of Rugby as an inside centre, competing for a place with international veterans such as Inga Tuigamala, and British Lion Alan Tait. He became a fixture in a side that went on to win the 1997-98 Allied Dunbar Premiership title. By March 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 4 April 1998; he was only 18.^[8][9]

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. Wilkinson became a fixture in the England team, and started in all their matches in the 1999 Five Nations Championship. He also played for the Falcons in their 1999 Tetley’s Bitter Cup final defeat to the London Wasps.

Wilkinson played for England in matches against Australia, the United States and Canada as the 1999 Rugby World Cup approached. He made his Rugby 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. 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. Following the quarter-final playoff win against Fiji, Wilkinson was relegated to the bench for the quarter-final against South Africa. England lost the match by 44–21 and exited the tournament. Clive 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 2000 Six Nations Championship matches. England won the championship, however they missed a Grand Slam after losing their final match against Scotland. Wilkinson then toured South Africa with England in June 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[link]

Wilkinson kicking for Newcastle

In 2001, England again won the Six Nations Championship. After the opening win over Wales, Wilkinson set an individual Six Nations Championship points scoring record with 35 points against Italy at Twickenham on 17 February, to overtake the record of his Newcastle Falcons mentor, Rob Andrew. 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. 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. The Lions won the first test over Australia by 29–13 in Brisbane, in which Wilkinson scored nine points through his kicking.

The second test, on 7 July, saw the Lions lose 35–14 at the Docklands Stadium. 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. 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 14 July. 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 Lansdowne Road. 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. 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 in their 2002 Six Nations Championship with wins over Scotland and Ireland, before losing to France at the Stade de France. 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. England then faced the 2002 Tri Nations Series champions Australia, who came to Twickenham on the back of a loss to Ireland. 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.

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, and defeated the Springboks by 53–3. Springbok Jannes Labuschagne was red-carded after 23 minutes for a late tackle on Wilkinson.^[13] The very physical match later saw Wilkinson leave the pitch with a dislocated left shoulder. The England camp believed that Wilkinson was targeted by South Africa during the game.^[14]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.^[15]

2003 Six Nations and Victory at the World Cup[link]

The opening match of the 2003 Six Nations Championship saw France, the reigning champions and Grand Slam winners, play England. 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.

The final match was against Ireland at Lansdowne Road and would determine the tournament, and Grand Slam winner of 2003. By putting more than 40 points on their opponents, winning 42–6, England became the 2003 champions and serious contenders for the upcoming 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. 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 14 June and in difficult weather conditions, Wilkinson scored all 15 points as England beat New Zealand 15–13 in Wellington. 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. Wilkinson was the youngest member of England's World Cup squad.^[16]

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. 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. 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 Rugby World Cup, when Wilkinson's mentor Rob Andrew scored a drop goal at the stroke of full time to win the game for England. 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 Rugby World Cup, and broke the Southern Hemisphere's dominance of the tournament in the process. Wilkinson also became the tournament's 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} This was contrary to the general public's opinion, which was that, although disappointed, they begrudgingly felt England had been the better team.^{[citation needed]}

Wilkinson was voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and also named the 2003 IRB International 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.

2004–2005[link]

Wilkinson training before a Six Nations match

Within a couple of weeks of winning the World Cup Wilkinson was found to have had a broken facet in his shoulder and missed the 2004 Six Nations Championship and the disastrous tour of New Zealand and Australia. He was named Captain of the England team on 4 October 2004, replacing Lawrence Dallaglio who had resigned five weeks earlier. 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. In January 2005 he injured his medial knee ligament in a match against Perpignan. 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.

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 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. Initially Wilkinson was left out of the 44-strong squad which was announced by Clive Woodward on 11 April 2005. 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. Wilkinson made his first international appearance since the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final on 23 May at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff as the Lions played Argentina. 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.

Wilkinson's next international appearance was in the Lions' first Test against New Zealand, starting at inside centre instead of his normal fly-half position. 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. Wilkinson was replaced by Stephen Jones in the final test.

Wilkinson had to forgo participation in the Falcons' August pre-season games in Japan due to appendicitis. 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.

2006–2007[link]

Wilkinson signing autographs, 2007

After settling back into the Falcons side, Wilkinson achieved a rare spell of fitness through the winter and into the spring, where he played in all 5 of England's 2006 Six Nations Championship games. However, concerns about his form arose, and it was questioned in several media sources whether his best days were behind him.^{[citation needed]}

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. Despite missing two conversions, he demonstrated his playmaker skills in the game against the Worcester Warriors on 30 April, in which he played the whole second half. 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 2005-06 Guinness Premiership game of the season on Saturday, 6 May 2006, converting six of his team's eight tries in their 54–19 victory over Leeds Tykes.

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. 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.^[17] In early August head coach of England, Andy Robinson announced the Elite Player Squad for the 2006-07 season, in which Wilkinson was included.^[18]

During the second game of the 2006-07 Guinness Premiership season against Worcester Warriors on Friday, 8 September, 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. 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 leaders Bristol on Friday, 3 November, kicking a conversion, a drop-goal and two penalties. It was reported on 9 November that Wilkinson suffered a lacerated kidney during the match.^[19] He returned from this injury in the Premiership game against Leicester Tigers on 27 January 2007, coming off the bench after 37 minutes.

Wilkinson performing his familiar pre kick ritual

On 29 January 2007, Wilkinson was selected at Fly-half in the starting line up for England in their 2007 Six Nations Championship opener against Scotland. England comprehensively beat Scotland 42–20 to regain the Calcutta Cup, Wilkinson making an impressive return,^[20][21] scoring 27 points with five penalties, two conversions, a drop goal, and a try.^[22] This broke the previous Calcutta Cup individual record of 24, set by Rob Andrew. Wilkinson was awarded the RBS Man of the Match as adjudicated by BBC commentator, Brian Moore.

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/Six Nations with 421 points.^[23] Despite another injury scare just before the match against Ireland on 26 February at Croke Park, Wilkinson started, scoring 8 points in the game which England lost 43–13. 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 3 March.^[24][25] On 13 April, he suffered a rib injury that forced him off during his fourth consecutive appearance for Newcastle in their 19–12 win over Gloucester.^[26]

Despite missing the season's last Premiership game against Bath, 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.^[27][28] He scored 17 points in the second test, which England lost 55–22.^[29] 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.^[30]

2007 World Cup[link]

Due to a non-contact ankle injury sustained in training,^[31] Wilkinson was not included in the teams for the opening games of the 2007 Rugby World Cup against the United States and then South Africa.^[32] He returned to score 24 points in the 44–22 win over Samoa.^[33] He helped England to victory against Tonga which put them through to the quarter-finals. During England's 12–10 quarter final win against Australia,^[34] 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. 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.^[35][36] In the 2007 Rugby 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. He was one of only four players to have started both the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cup Finals, the other three being Phil Vickery, Jason Robinson and Ben Kay.

2008–2009 International Season[link]

Wilkinson passing to his backline in training

Going into the 2008 Six Nations Championship, Wilkinson was the obvious choice as England's number 10 and started the first 4 matches. Against Wales on 2 February 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 8 March, 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. 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). However, close to the start of the second half during the Ireland match on 15 March, Wilkinson was brought off the bench to replace Toby Flood, thus playing alongside Cipriani at inside centre.^[37] 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 Wilkinson 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.^[38] 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. He was joined by Danny Cipriani on the sidelines after the Wasps player also missed out due to injury. On 1 July 2008 Wilkinson was named in Martin Johnson's Elite Player Squad and was the only specialist Fly-half in the squad. .

2008/2009 Guinness Premiership season[link]

Wilkinson made his recovery from shoulder surgery to score 22 points on his return game against Northampton on 14 September 2008, including a 45 metre last minute drop goal. Further sparkling performances and robust play indicated Wilkinson was playing injury free and back to his best. Unfortunately, the injury jinx struck again in the Guinness Premiership fixture against Gloucester on 30 September 2008. Wilkinson was forced off the field with a dislocated knee,^[39] which left him unavailable for England's autumn internationals and for the rest of the 2008-09 Guinness Premiership season.^[40] Wilkinson's injury facilitated a recall to the England squad for the Autumn Internationals for Danny Cipriani, who had returned from a serious ankle injury on 1 October 2008. In May 2009, it was confirmed that Wilkinson has ended his 12 years with the Falcons to join the French team Toulon for the 2009-10 Top 14 season.^[41]

2009 Autumn Internationals[link]

Wilkinson made a successful injury free comeback to international test rugby on 7 November against Australia after an 18 month absence. He then went on to play consecutive games against Argentina on 14 November and New Zealand on 21 November. Wilkinson along with Lewis Moody were England's most consistent performers as they lost to Australia and New Zealand and narrowly beat Argentina. During the first two games he was partnered with Shane Geraghty at inside centre for the third game he was partnered with Ayoola Erinle at inside centre.

Wilkinson playing for Toulon

2010-2011[link]

Because of a succession of injuries — affecting his knee ligaments, arm, shoulder and kidney — Wilkinson's international career was severely disrupted. He did not appear again for England until 1,169 days after the 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph, for the opening game of the 2007 Six Nations Championship against Scotland on 3 February 2007.^[42] In his comeback international match, Wilkinson scored 27 points (a record in the Calcutta Cup) in a full house (scoring points by all four possible methods), and was proclaimed Man of the Match.^[43] The following week against Italy, he became the highest point-scorer in the history of the Five/Six Nations Championship (he has since been overtaken by Ronan O'Gara of Ireland).^[44] On 6 October 2007, he also became the highest point-scorer in the history of the Rugby World Cup, kicking four penalties to overtake Scotland's Gavin Hastings in a quarter-final against Australia. In a 2008 Six Nations Championship 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 36.^[45] In March 2008, he became the highest international point-scorer, overtaking Neil Jenkins of Wales.^[46] In September 2008 he was injured again, ending his 2008-09 Guinness Premiership season.^[39] In May 2009 he agreed to join French club Toulon on a two-year contract, leaving Newcastle after 12 years.^[47] In July 2009 he was recalled into the England Elite Squad for the first time since the 2008 Six Nations Championship^[48] and was confirmed in the squad for the 2009 Autumn internationals after a successful run of games with Toulon.^[49] Wilkinson was then selected to tour Australia with the elite squad but was not selected as first choice fly half, nevertheless Wilkinson landed the winning points in the second test between England and Australia.^{[citation needed]}Injury forced him to miss out on the 2010 autumn internationals, in the process losing his position as the all-time leading points scorer in test rugby to Dan Carter. However, Wilkinson reclaimed the record during the 2011 Six Nations Championship, a tournament during which he came off the bench in each of England's five games. He again lost the record to Carter in July 2011. On 12 December 2011, he announced his retirement from Test Rugby.^[6]

International records[link]

Wilkinson during 2011 RWC

England won 67 of the 91 games Wilkinson played in.^[6] Wilkinson scored a record 29th Test drop goal against France in the 2008 Six Nations Championship. His first converted penalty against Scotland on 8 March 2008, took him 3 points past Wales's Neil Jenkins tally of 1090 Test rugby points. This achievement came due to the IRB retrospectively granting full Test status to the 2005 British and Irish Lions warm-up test against Argentina, in which he scored 20 points, without which he would have remained behind Jenkins on that day. Two more penalties in the second half took his tally to 1099 points. However, the IRB also awarded Jenkins his own retrospective tally of 41 points from Lions Tours, but Jenkins' combined total of 1090 is still behind that of Wilkinson. Even if Wilkinson's points from Lions Tours were excluded, he has still scored over 70 more Test points for England than Jenkins did for Wales.^[6]

On 26 February 2011, Wilkinson regained the record for the highest tally of International points, overtaking Dan Carter of New Zealand by scoring a penalty against France in a Six Nations match at Twickenham. Carter then reclaimed the record on 30 July 2011^[50] in the second 2011 Tri Nations Series match against South Africa. Wilkinson passed Ronan O'Gara (522), to regain the overall points record total of 526 in the 2010 Six Nations Championship, on 13 March 2010. Wilkinson holds the Rugby World Cup points record with 277 and is the only player to score points in two Rugby World Cup Finals.^[6]

Honours[link]

Newcastle Falcons[link]

• Premiership – 1997–98 Allied Dunbar Premiership
• Powergen Cup 2001, 2004

International[link]

• Rugby World Cup Winner 2003
• Rugby World Cup runner up 2007
• Six Nations 2000, 2001 and 2011
• Six Nations Championship Grand Slam 2003

Career highlights[link]

Statistics[link]

International tries[link]

• Try number three was scored while playing for The British and Irish Lions

Jonny Wilkinson's International Tries[51]
Try	Opposing Team	City/Country	Venue	Competition	Year
[1]	Italy	London, England	Twickenham	Rugby World Cup	1999
[2]	Italy	London, England	Twickenham	Six Nations	2001
[3]	Australia	Sydney, Australia	Stadium Australia	Test Match	2001
[4]	Ireland	London, England	Twickenham	Six Nations	2002
[5]	Wales	London, England	Twickenham	Six Nations	2002
[6]	New Zealand	London, England	Twickenham	Test Match	2002
[7]	Scotland	London, England	Twickenham	Six Nations	2007

International analysis by opposition[link]

Against	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Tries	Points	% Won
Argentina	4	3	0	1	0	53	75
Australia	12	7	5	0	0	147	58.33
Canada	1	1	0	0	0	11	100
Fiji	1	1	0	0	0	23	100
France	11	8	3	0	0	153	72.73
Georgia	1	1	0	0	0	16	100
Ireland	9	6	3	0	0	97	66.67
Italy	8	8	0	0	0	142	100
New Zealand	7	2	5	0	0	64	28.57
Samoa	2	2	0	0	0	39	100
Scotland	8	5	2	1	1	100	62.5
South Africa	9	5	4	0	0	127	55.56
Tonga	1	1	0	0	0	16	100
United States	1	1	0	0	0	26	100
Wales	9	7	2	0	1	166	77.78
Total	83	57	24	2	2	1172	69.84

Correct as of 14 March 2010^[52]

Media[link]

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. He has also written four books, with the help of ghostwriter Neil Squires, which have been published by Headline. 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. 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 focused on his experience of the 2003 World Cup, and how his life had altered following the winning drop goal. 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. Wilkinson's book 'Tackling Life' was released in 2008. This book focuses on how his aspect on life changed after his injury woes, and how he overcame them.

Personal life[link]

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".^[53]

Wilkinson says Richard Hill and Mike Catt are his closest friends in the England rugby set-up. In 2001, he also acknowledged his friendships with former hooker Phil Greening and winger Dan Luger to be similarly strong. In his life after rugby, Wilkinson has stated that he wishes to get more involved in coaching, especially children and at "an elite level".^[54]

Wilkinson is widely known as a teetotaler, but broke that habit after England lost to South Africa in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final.^[55]

Wilkinson has been following Buddhist principles and teachings to help control his perfectionist tendencies according to an interview he gave with The Times newspaper.^[56]

Other[link]

• In August 2011, Wilkinson launched his official website www.jonnywilkinson.com
• In December 2005, Wilkinson was awarded an honorary doctorate in Civil Law by Northumbria University.
• 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.
• Has the American basketball player Michael Jordan's autograph, addressed to 'Johnny' with an 'h'.
• Wilkinson studied French, Biology and Chemistry for his A-levels and conducts all his interviews in France in French, without the aid of an interpreter.
• 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.
• Although he is a naturally left-footed kicker, he kicked the World Cup winning drop goal in 2003 with his right foot.
• Jonny Wilkinson appeared with David Beckham in the famous Kicking It ads for Adidas prior to the Rugby World Cup in 2003

See also[link]

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

References[link]