JONNY Wilkinson could make an eagerly-awaited comeback to Kingston Park on Thursday night as Newcastle Falcons play host to Toulon.
The Mediterranean city seemed an ironic choice of venue for French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy to preach the virtues of austerity last week, given the flagrant manner in which the local rugby club have gone about their business.
Scattering cash like confetti in assembling a virtual World XV on the Riviera, Wilkinson’s was among the prize signatures for mad-cap owner Mourad Boudjellal.
The antics of the comic-book magnate make charismatic ex-Falcons owner Dave Thompson look like Miss Marple at times with his media tirades and touch-line histrionics, but life is rarely dull at Stade Mayol.
For Wilkinson the move has made sense, and at 32 the iconic stand-off is back to some of the best rugby of his career.
Installed as club captain under new coach Bernard Laporte – the former French national team leader who recently replaced Philippe Saint-Andre – his side are perched fifth in the Top 14 league 12 games into their season.
Top of their Amlin Challenge Cup group on points difference against a Falcons side also unbeaten in the competition, back-to-back games against their English opponents will all but decide which of the two teams marches on to the quarter-finals.
Last Saturday’s bruising 33-12 league loss at Toulouse casts a degree of doubt over whether or not Wilkinson and his big-name cohorts will line-up for duty on Thursday, with French clubs renowned for their laissez-faire stance on away games in Europe’s second-tier competition.
However, the sheer fact rugby’s kicking king is so fit, ready and able for action could be greeted with an ironic tut at his former home.
Starting only 25 times from a possible 110 in league action during his final five seasons on Tyneside, it would be hard to reason against Newcastle’s decision to cut him loose from the last year of his lucrative contract.
Cynics had it the World Cup winner was more focused on England caps than pushing his club up the Premiership table.
While such a notion is hard to stomach, the fact he made 25 international appearances during the same five-year period does give it statistical credence.
Thirty-five league starts in his two full seasons since crossing the Channel have eased French fears and it would be churlish to ignore his opening six campaigns at Kingston Park which brought 94 league starts and an enormous 1,092 points.
It remains an immense contribution which rightly cements his legend status among the Kingston Park faithful, and the two-time World Cup finalist is assured the warmest of receptions should he make the trip over this week.
