Wilkinson confirms his retirement from rugby

Jonny Wilkinson has officially announced his retirement from rugby.

The much-decorated fly-half, who won the World Cup with England in 2003, will bow out at the end of the month following his final two games for Toulon.

Fittingly, those matches will be this weekend's Heineken Cup final against Saracens, followed by the Top 14 final against Castres on May 31.

In a statement on the Toulon website, Wilkinson said: "I would like to take this opportunity to formally announce my retirement from playing rugby. It goes without saying that I have an enormous number of people to thank for their support from all around the world, but especially here in France and in England.

"This however is not at all the time to be concentrating on this as I would like to focus all my attention and energy on the team and these final two games of the season.

"I sincerely thank you all for everything you have given me and for making these last 17 years something I will never forget."