Jonny Wilkinson retires from international rugby
Jonny Wilkinson has announced his retirement
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Tuesday, 13, Dec 2011 01:15
By Neal Wallace
Jonny Wilkinson has retired from international rugby union with 91 caps.
The England fly-half, 32, kicked the winning drop-goal in his country's 2003 World Cup final against Australia and played six Tests for the British and Irish Lions.
Despite having a career that was plagued by injury, Wilkinson is still England's all-time leading scorer with 1,179 points. His total puts him second on the worldwide list behind New Zealand's Dan Carter, who has 1,246 points to his name.
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He said in a statement: "It 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."
Tributes have been paid to the player, with Lewis Moody - who announced his own retirement from England duty in October - claiming he is "humbled" to have played on the same team as Wilkinson.
Sir Clive Woodward, who was England coach when they won the World Cup, told the BBC that the Toulon back changed the face of the game.