New Zealand’s national team lock Brodie Retallick (left) is welcomed by Japanese fans upon his team’s arrival at Narita Airport, in the suburbs of Tokyo, on Monday. New Zealand will play Japan in Tokyo on November 2.
LONDON: Former England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson (pictured) says winning the 2003 World Cup created a celebrity burden that changed his rugby career and left him feeling fragile.
Speaking to the Daily Mail newspaper ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 20-17 final triumph over Australia in Sydney, a victory Wilkinson sealed with a drop goal in extra time, he said “life stopped being simple” from that point on.
“I wouldn’t swap it for anything in my career but that one night changed everything,” said the 34-year-old who now plays for French club Toulon.
“I have a very unhealthy fear of being celebrated. It doesn’t feel right. If I had my time again after the World Cup I would face up to it more.
“I remember walking into my house in a hat, then sending my mate out in my car wearing the same hat so me and my brother could drive off in his car and escape out the back,” added Wilkinson.
“Maybe I should have gone out there and got used to the fact my life had changed but, at the same time, showing people I hadn’t. Instead I hid from it and that kept the problems going - it made me feel fragile.” Part of Wilkinson’s problem was the litany of injuries that kept him out of the game for months at a time, despite the fact he went on to appear at two more World Cups.
“I should have turned around in 2003 and said, ‘That’s that done, life can’t get any better, let’s just enjoy it’. But I didn’t and because I couldn’t play, everything was related to that night. I made it a burden.
“I’ve thought a lot about the first half of my career, then the obvious break with all the injuries, then the second half which includes my time now with Toulon,” said Wilkinson who retired from international rugby in December 2011.
“Things made a lot more sense in that first period. As time goes on I’m realising how precious those years were. In a way the problem in my career was winning the World Cup.”
Wilkinson also said he has never seen a replay of the final.
Meanwhile, Wilkinson married his long-term live-in girlfriend Shelley Jenkins in a private ceremony in the southern French resort of Bandol, the local mayor reported.
Bandol mayor Christian Palix said Wilkinson and Jenkins, who live in the town, had only invited two witnesses to the low-key ceremony in the local
town hall. AGENCIES
LONDON: Australia utility back James O’Connor has signed a short-term contract with London Irish, the struggling English Premiership club announced yesterday after securing the services of a talented player capped 44 times by the Wallabies.
The 23-year-old was released from his Australia Rugby Union contract this month after a string of disciplinary issues and failed to agree a deal with any of his country’s five Super Rugby franchises.
“Having decided that I needed a change from both a personal and playing point of view, I spoke to clubs in Japan and France, and concluded that the best way forward for my development was to move to England,” O’Connor said in a statement on the club’s website (www.london-irish.com).
Confirming the contract would run until the end of the season in May, London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith added: “James is a world-class player and a terrific kid and it is fantastic to have him at London Irish. He will bring a huge amount of experience to our group and will fit in well to our style of play. He is fit and ready to play so the coaching group will get him up to date on everything and hopefully he’ll be ready to go this weekend.”
He is expected to make his debut at fullback against the Northampton Saints on Sunday.
After the Rebels announced they would not offer O’Connor a new deal after two injury-hit seasons in Melbourne, the only Australian team interested in his signature was his former club the Western Force.
However, he ended negotiations with the Perth-based side, saying he needed a fresh start overseas.
O’Connor, who is capable of playing in any backline position, has faced a string of off-field dramas. He was escorted out of Perth Airport for drunken behaviour last month, prompting Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie to dump him from the squad for the final two Rugby Championship
