Jonny Wilkinson’s ex breaks silence on their shock split: ‘No room for anything else’
Rugby NewsSaturday, 29 November 2025 at 08:10
England rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson may have kicked his team to World Cup glory in 2003, but the victory came at a heavy personal cost.
“I spent my career simply trying to withstand the pressure I piled on myself,” Wilkinson reflects. “When it was all over, I looked back and thought, ‘What did I actually do with my career? I survived it.’ If my 20-year-old self had heard that, I’d have wanted to give myself a good shake.”
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On October 21, 2013, Jonny married his girlfriend of eight years, Shelley Jenkins, in a private ceremony in Bandol, on the French Riviera, near Toulon. They now have one child, a son believed to be named James.
Jonny has been candid about the mental health struggles he faced after the World Cup, especially during his time off the pitch due to injuries. However, his outlook improved significantly after meeting Shelley.
The couple met in 2005, shortly after Wilkinson ended his relationship with prominent Sky Sports presenter Diana Stewart.
Diana joined Sky in February 2003 and covered a variety of sports, including golf, tennis, boxing, football, and rugby, before taking on her current role as the host of Sky's 'Golf Night'.
A friend noted that Wilkinson's intense dedication to rugby had strained his relationships. "It is the same with all his relationships; rugby got in the way then as it is doing now," the friend said.
"He's just so committed to the sport that there is no room for anything else."
Commenting on the split, Diana said: "We are not in a relationship at the moment, but we are still very close. Jonny and I speak every day, but the two of us have a lot of things going on in our lives.
"There was no one particular thing. A lot of factors played a part in the decision. Even so we are still incredibly supportive of each other. It works well."
Diana married European Tour golfer Nick Dougherty on New Year's Eve 2010. She also dated Declan Donnelly
Jonny Wilkinson has named the FIVE best fly-halves of all-time
Wilkinson, born on May 25, 1979, is a retired English rugby legend renowned for his precision and dedication.
“This is the key position for any World Cup winning team," revealed Wilkinson
"You need guys that are going to lead and continue to do so right to the final seconds when it gets very, very tough.
"I can’t just pick one.”
The group boasts four Rugby World Cup winners, and between them the five have amassed 553 points.
Each individual played their part in their countries’ successes and all possessed the qualities to take the pivotal spot in the team.
1. Michael Lynagh (Australia)
For a decade from his debut in 1984 to his international retirement in 1995, former Wallaby Skipper Lynagh was one of the most distinguishable players in World Rugby.
After 72 internationals, he had set a new point-scoring record of 911, which is still an Australia record. He was an important member of the side that won the 1991 World Cup in England, but retired from International Rugby after Australia’s loss to England in the quarter-final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Did you know: His son, Louis Lynagh, currently plays for Harlequins academy and has represented England U18
2. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
The double World Cup-winner has established himself as one of the greatest players in history, being near faultless in every department: he can attack, break the line and kick accurately tactically or at goal.
He was named the World Player of the Year in 2005, 2012 and 2015 and has won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, and nine Tri-Nations and Rugby Championships with the All Blacks.
Did you know: In 2008, American Cable Channel E! judged Carter to be 11th on its list of the world’s sexiest men.
3. Joel Stransky (South Africa)
Fly-half Stransky cemented his place in the hearts and minds of the nation by kicking the drop goal that saw South Africa claim the sport's biggest prize in 1995.
He also wrote his name in the history books in the opening match of the tournament when he became the first Springbok to score a try, a conversion, a penalty and a drop goal in the same game - a 27-18 win over defending champions, Australia.
4. Stephen Larkham (Australia)
While we in England will never tire of Wilkinson’s drop goal in the 2003 World Cup Final, Aussie nostalgia freaks prefer Larkham’s 48-metre effort against South Africa in the 1999 semi-final.
A converted full back whose kicking was supposedly so errant that a triumphant TV ad poked self-mocking fun at it, Larkham celebrated his World Cup success by having laser treatment to correct his dodgy vision.
Did you know: Larkham was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2012
5. Grant Fox (New Zealand)
Despite not being a great player with the ball in hand the former All Black Grant Fox was one of the games greatest ever kickers in history.
It only took Fox six games to amass 100 Test match points, and two years later he won the inaugural World Cup on home soil in 1987. During the tournament, he scored 126 points from six matches finishing the tournament as the top points scorer.
Did you know: In December 2011 he was named as an All Blacks selector in Steve Hansen’s new coaching set-up.
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