World Cup winning England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has retired from international rugby with immediate effect. Toulon's Wilkinson, 32, announced the decision on his personal website.
"I would like to take this opportunity to announce my retirement from International rugby," England's record points scorer said. "To do so fills me with great sadness but I know that I have been blessed in so many ways to have experienced what I have with the England rugby team. "I never ever believed that I would be able to give up on this dream which has driven me to live, breathe, love and embrace the game of rugby from the earliest days that I can remember."
Despite quitting England, Wilkinson made clear his intent to continue playing for French side Toulon, where his career has been revitalised after the final years of his Newcastle spell degenerated into repeated injury lay-offs. Indeed, the decision allows Toulon to plan accordingly, as his current contract includes clauses releasing him for England duty, which has caused problems with the RFU for Wilkinson and other international team-mates.
"I certainly have no intention of letting this decision change the way that I approach my training and preparation for games," he added. "In fact early indication shows me that I'm actually getting more intense about it. "Playing the game, representing the team, giving my all and never letting go has meant everything to me. I do, have done and always will believe that I am very capable of performing and thriving at any level of the sport. "Wilkinson - who can also play at inside-centre - was regarded to have under-performed along with most of England's team in their ill-fated 2011 World Cup campaign in New Zealand.
However, he will be remembered as one of the finest players in rugby history, a perfectionist who fought back to play at the highest level despite several career-threatening injuries. At the peak of his game Wilkinson was renowned not only for his precision-kicking - marked by his famous clenched-fist run-up - but also for his clever play-making and aggressive tackling, with the latter contributing to the shoulder problems that blighted much of his later career.
Over a 13-year-England spell, the former Newcastle star won 91 caps, including two World Cup finals, winning the 2003 trophy with a last-gasp drop goal against Australia. Wilkinson also played in England's defeat to South Africa four years later, making him the first player to score points in two World Cup finals.
Furthermore, he has the record for highest number of points scored in World Cup finals (249), for England (1,179) and is second in the all-time points standings to New Zealand's Dan Carter.
In terms of the England team's future, Wilkinson continued by wishing luck to new caretaker coach Stuart Lancaster, and expressing his hope that young players would now be given the chance to shine. "I have gone as far as I can go with this England team and that the time is right for others to enjoy the same honour and pride that I have felt over the past 15 seasons and beyond," he said.
"It goes without saying that I would like to wish Stuart Lancaster, his coaches and the England Squad every bit of success available to them. I would also very much like to extend those wishes to Martin Johnson, Brian Smith, Mike Ford, John Wells, Graham Rowntree and the rest of the England 2011 World Cup management team who have been fantastic - and deserve people to know that."
Leicester Tigers fly-half Toby Flood is expected to fill the void for England, while Saracens' rising star Owen Farrell - the 20-year-old son of former England international and current national team coach Andy Farrell - has been tipped for a call-up.
