Jonny Wilkinson close to Toulon move

Jonny Wilkinson is set to join bigspending Toulon and put his stop-start England career in real jeapordy.

Advisors for the Newcastle fly-half are understood to be close to finalising a deal that will see him finishing his career in France at a club where money is no problem.

It would end a 12-season association with the Falcons, Wilkinson's only senior club which he joined at 18.

Philippe Saint-Andre, who is quitting Sale to take over at Toulon, is confident the deal will go through and Wilkinson will be joined by Kris Chesney, the veteran Saracens lock, who has also agreed to end his career at the club. Martin Johnson, the England team manager and RFU chiefs, have warned their leading players that moving to France could mean missing out on Test selection even if release dates for all training sessions are agreed with their new clubs.

Wilkinson will have those release periods in his deal but with a reported salary of £750,000 a season, his loyalty will be with Toulon.

Since helping England win the World Cup in 2003, Wilkinson has been plagued by injury and he is still recovering from a knee problem that has ruined his season.