A PASSIONATE pair who celebrated after England's last-gasp Rugby World Cup victory have brought their own little hero into the world -Jonny Wilkinson.

Baby Jonny was conceived after rugby fan Steve Clarke and his Australian wife, Yolanda, watched England beat Australia in Sydney last November.

Nine months later, Steve, who emigrated to Australia from York, could not wait to give his new-born son a white jersey bearing the red rose of his native country.

Steve's parents, Derek and Enid, who live in York, are planning to travel across the world to see their grandson, Jonny Wilkinson Clarke, in Melbourne.

Derek, 69, said: "He always was rugby mad. But the name came out of the blue. It's not a name I would have picked, but I have got used to it."

Enid, 74, said: "No one had any choice in the matter. He had the name written in the register before his wife could even see it."

Derek and Enid, who worked for Nestl Rowntree for more than 45 years, will take a photograph signed by the original Jonny Wilkinson, who has just been named England captain, with them to Australia.