Jonny Wilkinson, the man who led England to World Cup glory in 2003, has remained a national hero ever since. <\/p>\n
Join RUCK\u2019s Instagram broadcast channel\u00a0<\/a>and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n But while his sporting achievements are legendary, it\u2019s his personal journey that has seen some surprising turns.<\/p>\n A French Romance\u00a0On 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.<\/p>\n From Struggles to Strength\u00a0Wilkinson 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.<\/p>\n A New Beginning\u00a0Jonny and Shelley\u2019s relationship blossomed after Jonny\u2019s 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 \u2018Golf Night\u2019.<\/p>\n Rugby: The Strain on Relationships\u00a0A friend of Wilkinson\u2019s explained the toll rugby took on his personal life, saying: \u201cIt is the same with all his relationships; rugby got in the way then as it is doing now. He\u2019s just so committed to the sport that there is no room for anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n Diana\u2019s Reflections\u00a0Diana, who later married European Tour golfer Nick Dougherty in December 2010, reflected on their breakup: \u201cWe 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. <\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThere 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Life After Jonny\u00a0Diana moved on after her split from Wilkinson, dating Declan Donnelly of Ant & Dec before marrying Dougherty.<\/p>\n Dan Carter Picks His Dream 15 From Past Teammates and Rivals<\/p>\n Dan Carter, one of rugby\u2019s all-time greats, left an indelible mark on the sport. Across 112 Test matches, Carter scored an astonishing\u00a01,598 points\u00a0for the All Blacks and added another\u00a01,708 points\u00a0for the Crusaders.<\/p>\n Though injuries ruled him out of the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups, Carter finished his career in style, delivering a\u00a0Man of the Match performance in the 2015 World Cup final, helping New Zealand lift the trophy.<\/p>\n Now, Carter has revealed his\u00a0Dream Team of players\u00a0he admires and respects, combining past teammates and opponents who inspired him throughout his career.<\/p>\n FRONT ROW<\/p>\n 1. Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa)<\/p>\n Known as \u201cThe Beast,\u201d Mtawarira earned\u00a0117 Test caps\u00a0for South Africa. A powerhouse in the scrum, his physicality and leadership were vital to the Springboks\u2019 success during his era.<\/p>\n 2. Dane Coles (New Zealand)<\/p>\n Dynamic and skillful, Coles earned\u00a084 caps\u00a0for the All Blacks. Renowned for his ball-handling, mobility, and work ethic, he was a key figure in New Zealand\u2019s dominant 2010s run.<\/p>\n 3. Olo Brown (New Zealand)<\/p>\n Brown earned\u00a052 caps\u00a0and was celebrated for his scrummaging strength and imposing physical presence, forming the backbone of New Zealand\u2019s front row in the 1990s.<\/p>\n SECOND ROW<\/p>\n 4. Paul O\u2019Connell (Ireland)<\/p>\n Ireland legend O\u2019Connell captained his country to a\u00a0Six Nations Grand Slam\u00a0and earned\u00a0108 Test caps. His line-out dominance and relentless tackling made him a central figure in Ireland\u2019s golden era.<\/p>\n 5. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)<\/p>\n One of the finest locks of his generation, Retallick has\u00a0132 caps\u00a0for the All Blacks. His athleticism, line-out skill, and physical presence were pivotal to New Zealand\u2019s\u00a02015 World Cup triumph.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n