Jonny Wilkinson retires from international rugby (From The Northern Echo)

Jonny Wilkinson retires from international rugby

7:09pm Monday 12th December 2011 in International Rugby News

ENGLAND'S World Cup winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has retired from international rugby.

Former Newcastle Falcons star Wilkinson, whose drop-goal secured victory against Australia in the final of the 2003 World Cup, won 91 caps for his country as well as six Test appearances for the British and Irish Lions.

The Rugby Football Union confirmed the 32-year-old had announced his retirement and, in a statement on his own website, www.jonnywilkinson.com, he wrote: "I would like to take this opportunity to announce my retirement from international rugby.

"To do so fills me with great sadness, but I know I have been blessed in so many ways to have experienced what I have with the England rugby team."