JONNY WILKINSON HAS put his hand up for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia next year.

Wilkinson, 33, retired from international rugby in December but still plies his trade for French side Toulon.

The Lions will play nine matches in Australia from June, including three Tests against the Wallabies.

“There’s no way I could say no,” Wilkinson said.

“In terms of what that represents, everything about it, it’s enormous. Such a fabulous thing.”

“It doesn’t matter where you come from. You have got six weeks, get your boots on and get into it.”

Wilkinson, who scored the winning drop goal in the final minute of extra time against Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, has 91 England caps to his name.

He has toured twice with the Lions, to Australia in 2001 and New Zealand in 2005, though both ended in defeat.
“It is niggling away at me,” Wilkinson said.

“All I can do is play and see if I fit into those plans. If I don’t, I’ll make the best of what I’ve got, which, let’s face it, is good enough.”

Wilkinson missed the last Lions tour to South Africa in 2009 due to injury.

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