JONNY Wilkinson will play for Newcastle Falcons in their Guinness Premiership game against London Irish on Saturday.

Wilkinson will be joined by Test colleagues Mathew Tait and Toby Flood at the Madejski Stadium - just eight days before England's crunch game against France.

The World Cup hero was rested by Falcons' in-between England's games against Scotland and Ireland after a request from national coach Brian Ashton.