Jonny Wilkinson's relationship with Sky Sports presenter broke down during dark period
Rugby NewsSunday, 17 November 2024 at 15:41
– Should’ve been given more game time from the start.
Jonny Wilkinson, the man who led England to World Cup glory in 2003, has remained a national hero ever since.
But while his sporting achievements are legendary, it’s his personal journey that has seen some surprising turns.
A French Romance On October 21, 2013, Wilkinson tied the knot with Shelley Jenkins, his girlfriend of eight years. The ceremony was a private affair in Bandol, on the French Riviera, not far from Toulon. Today, the couple has a son, believed to be named James.
From Struggles to Strength Wilkinson has been open about the mental health challenges he faced following his World Cup triumph, particularly during his time off the field due to injuries. However, meeting Shelley helped him regain his perspective and improve his outlook on life.
A New Beginning Jonny and Shelley’s relationship blossomed after Jonny's split from Sky Sports presenter Diana Stewart in 2005. At the time, Diana was just starting her career with Sky, covering a variety of sports, including golf, tennis, boxing, football, and rugby, before becoming the host of 'Golf Night'.
Rugby: The Strain on Relationships A friend of Wilkinson’s explained the toll rugby took on his personal life, saying: "It is the same with all his relationships; rugby got in the way then as it is doing now. He's just so committed to the sport that there is no room for anything else."
Diana's Reflections Diana, who later married European Tour golfer Nick Dougherty in December 2010, reflected on their breakup: "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."
Life After Jonny Diana moved on after her split from Wilkinson, dating Declan Donnelly of Ant & Dec before marrying Dougherty.
Editors picks:
- Sir Clive Woodward slams England players behaviour after fifth straight loss
- Springboks Employ Controversial Tactic England Faced Criticism For Using
- RFU have already made Final Call on Sacking England Boss Steve Borthwick
- Bookies Favourites to Replace Under-Fire Steve Borthwick – Including Two Former England Bosses
- Fans turn on captain George after interview following latest defeat
Five England players Steve Borthwick should drop – and who should replace them
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Here’s how each player fared, with ratings from multiple outlets:
#1. Freddie Steward – High Ball Hero, Defensive Zero?
Average Rating: 4.75/10
- Evening Standard (5/10):
"Handed a first start this autumn due to his ability under the high ball, but struggled. Williams and Kolbe skinned him for their tries." - Telegraph (5/10):
"Definition of sublime and ridiculous. Left clutching thin air for both Grant Williams’ and Cheslin Kolbe’s tries and at one stage did a face plant. Also some brilliant high-ball takes." - Express (4/10):
"At fault for tries by Kolbe and Williams as he endured a difficult return to starting line-up." - Rugby Pass (5/10):
"Exposed defensively for two tries, despite strong aerial work."
George Furbank – He shouldn’t have been dropped in the first place.
#2. Ellis Genge – The Genge Rollercoaster
Average Rating: 4.5/10
- Evening Standard (5/10):
"Let Williams slip past him as the scrum-half went over for South Africa’s opening try. Improved after that, though, and was bright in the loose - but not at his best." - Express (4/10):
"Scrum problems in first half, usual full-blooded commitment for an hour."
Replacement: Fin Baxter – Genge’s leadership was strong, but a change may be needed in the tighthead role.
#3. Ollie Lawrence – Hits, Misses, and a Bit More of the Same
Average Rating: 5/10
- Telegraph (5/10):
"Barely used as a ball-carrier again. Put one huge hit on Manie Libbok but also wasted a good attacking opportunity with a needless kick. Disappointing." - Planet Rugby (5/10):
"Solid in attack but caught out in defense, continuing the trend of inconsistency." - Express (5/10):
"Hit hard and carried hard, but in this fixture that is a minimum requirement."
Replacement: Alex Lozowski – Needs to step in to provide more stability and spark in attack.
#4. Will Stuart – Scrum Woes and Penalty Troubles
Average Rating: 4.5/10
- Telegraph (4/10):
"Difficult to overlook the succession of three penalties, even if the third seemed harsh. Did get one back at the scrum in the second half." - Express (5/10):
"England again unable to build any sort of attacking platform from their scrum against the mighty Boks."
Replacement: Dan Cole – Still England's best tighthead.
#5. Jack van Poortvliet – Struggling to Find His Rhythm
Average Rating: 4.5/10
- Evening Standard (5/10):
"Shaky at times and repeatedly had his box-kicks charged down." - Planet Rugby (5/10):
"Never fully recovered from a shaky start, with multiple box kicks charged down by du Toit and Etzebeth." - Express (3/10):
"First start in a long while and it showed. Repeatedly charged down at the base." - Telegraph (5/10):
"Etzebeth made him his bunny, charging him down twice in a hesitant early performance."
Replacement: Ben Spencer
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