Exclusive: Wilkinson departure to France 'moving closer'
Jonny Wilkinson edging closer to French move this summer
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Wednesday, 08, Apr 2009 06:47
Jonny Wilkinson's protracted move to France is getting ever closer to coming to fruition, with Toulon his most likely destination.
inthenews.co.uk understands that the England fly-half's father has been trying to tout his son to many of the top-flight sides in France since before Christmas.
Wilkinson has wanted to play in France at some point in his career and started taking language lessons some years ago with that in mind.
The 29-year-old craves Heineken Cup rugby, having played only one season in Europe's top competition during his career at Newcastle Falcons.
Unfortunately for Wilkinson, sources suggest several of the top sides in France have shown little interest in him due to his shocking run of injuries since the World Cup in 2003.
Although second division side Racing Metro, backed by a millionaire Jacky Lorenzetti, were interested in signing Wilkinson another club - Toulon - have now emerged as favourites.
Toulon have, like many of the clubs in the Top 14, made some bold moves ahead of next season.
Their main coup so far has been to persuade Sale Sharks head coach Philippe Saint-Andre to return to France to take over from former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga.
The capture of Wilkinson, despite his injury record, would arguably top that and chairman Mourad Boudjellal says Wilkinson recently visited the club.
"He came to Toulon, yes," Boudjellal told scrum.com.
"He came to get a bit of sun - and it was sunny so he was happy.
"Wilkinson is a player that a lot of clubs could dream of - but we need to stay up, we need to be able to afford it and we need to be the team that he chooses."
Toulon, despite having signed the likes of Victor Matfield, George Gregan and Jerry Collins in recent years, have struggled to break into the upper echelons of the French top division - much like Wilkinson's current side Newcastle.
The Falcons have been quiet about Wilkinson's seemingly imminent departure, even though he still has another year remaining on his current deal.
This is due in some part to the form of Tom May who has filled Wilkinson's boots ably this season and led the Falcons on a run of seven wins in their last nine league games.
With Newcastle seemingly happy to let their oft-injured and expensive star walk away, and the player's own desire to test himself in the French league, it appears to only be a matter of time before Toulon get their man.