England’s 2003 World Cup-winning hero Jonny Wilkinson has signed up to join Sky Sports as regular pundit on its rugby union coverage ahead of the start of the new European Champions Cup.
Wilkinson will be part Sky’s line up of analysts across the broadcaster’s wide-ranging portfolio of live international, European and domestic rugby union, including England’s autumn internationals in November.
He will make his Sky Sports punditry debut on Saturday, October 18, as Sale take on Munster and Premiership champions Northampton Saints travel to Paris to face Racing Métro in Sky’s opening two games from the inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup, which the broadcaster is sharing live matches with BT Sport.
The former England fly-half will offer fans his fresh and unique insight into all the weekend’s European action, having won the former Heineken Cup with French side Toulon for the last two seasons.
Willkinson will then be reunited with his 2003 World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward and team-mate Will Greenwood as England take on the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday, November 8, where he break down what it takes to beat the world’s top team in the Sky Sports studio.
Also as part of the new partnership with Sky, Wilkinson will also become an Ambassador for the Sky Sports Living for Sport initiative, which is free to all secondary schools in the UK and Ireland.
He will use his own personal story to inspire young people plus the skills learnt through sport to help increase young people’s confidence, self-esteem, engagement in, and attitudes to, learning, and improve their health and wellbeing.
Commenting on his new role with Sky Sports, Wilkinson said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to have some incredible experiences on the rugby pitch.
“I’m excited about passing on my passion and sharing what I’ve learnt over the years with Sky Sports viewers and young people in the next chapter of my career.
“I’ll be in impressive company as I join another successful team and I hope that I can play my part in the studio.”
Barney Francis, Sky Sports Managing Director, commented: “Jonny is a sporting legend. We all remember where we were when we watched that drop goal.
“Having been there and done it in every competition for club and country, rugby fans will want to hear his perspective on our biggest ever season of international and European rugby. I can’t wait to see him in action.”
After a glittering career spanning more than 15 years at the top of his sport, Wilkinson retired earlier this year after taking Toulon to the Top 14 and Heineken Cup title in his final season as a player.
He ended his career as the second highest international points scorer of all time and memorably played a pivotal role in England’s famous 2003 Rugby World Cup win.
Collecting four RBS 6 Nations Championship-winning medals in addition to his World Cup triumph, Wilkinson also enjoyed English Premiership success with Newcastle Falcons and toured twice with the British and Irish Lions.
Sky Sports’ rugby union schedule features over 360 live matches this season including Autumn Internationals from England, Ireland, France and Italy, European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, Top 14, Guinness PRO12, IRB Sevens World Series and women’s rugby.
The Sky Sports Living for Sport initiative has been running in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust since 2003. The free initiative is open to all UK and Irish secondary schools and over 90,000 young people will be involved this year.
Wilkinson joins a glittering array of Sky ambassadors, including Great Britain Olympic champions Jessica Ennis-Hill and Darren Campbell, plus Irish ambassador Olympic boxer Katie Taylor, alongside a team of 90 world-class athlete mentors.
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