Jonny Wilkinson
Overview
 
Jonathan Peter "Jonny" Wilkinson OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

 (born 25 May 1979 in Frimley
Frimley
Frimley is a small English town situated 2 miles south of Camberley, in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire. It is about 31 miles west south-west of Central London. It is part of the Borough of Surrey Heath...

, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...

) is an English rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 player and member of the England national team
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...

. Wilkinson rose to acclaim from 2001 to 2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...

  and was acknowledged as one of the world’s best rugby players. He was an integral member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning England squad, scoring the winning drop goal
Drop kick
A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of football. It involves a player dropping the ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground. It contrasts to a punt, wherein the player kicks the ball without letting it hit the ground first....

 in the last minute of extra time against Australia in the final.
Quotations

I like to think I play rugby as it should be played – there are no yellow or red cards in my collection - but I cannot say I'm an angel.

I only get the points because I have team-mates who do the work and put me in the position to get them.

My post-Sydney goals are to become a much better player and person.

After the 2003 Rugby World Cup|Rugby World Cup

I play with a fear of letting people down. That's what motivates me.

It's a privilege to be here amongst so many people I've grown up admiring and still watch it on the telly. I've been sat there staring at Boris Becker, one of my heroes, for half the evening.

On winning BBC Sports personality of the year in 2003.

I've been massively honoured to be part of a wonderful England team. To play under and be led by Martin Johnson is also such a humbling experience.

I've gone past the stage of saying 'Why me... why does it always happen?'

In reference to another injury-marred comeback.

 
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