AFTER 14 YEARS in an England shirt, the man who will be best remembered for his winning drop-goal in the final minutes of the 2003 World Cup (see video below) has called it a day on his international career.
Here’s what those who worked alongside Jonny Wilkinson have to say about him:
Keith Wood – Former Ireland player & Lions team-mate
“I tried to get him to join Harlequins when he was 18 because he was a walking ball of talent. He was a guy you could hang your hat on and build your team around.
“I toured with him with the Lions in 2001. He got injured at one stage and the view was that he might need surgery but he ended up playing the following week.
“He was broken on the Saturday and he played the following week.
“He was never a flash number 10 because he was Mr Dependendable – and that’s my kind of player.”
Eddie O’Sullivan – Former Ireland & assistant Lions coach
“Jonny was a fantastic professional, a real gentleman and a joy to work with. He is an extraordinary guy whose work ethic is phenomenal.
“He steps away from the game being regarded as one of the great number 10s.
Clive Woodward – Former England & Lions coach
“I think we will all look back at Jonny’s career and just regard ourselves as extremely lucky, whether we were players or coaches, to be around him when he was at his very best.
“He was always just a great part of the team, he was the ultimate team player.
“He took his own game to a whole new level. He was part of a whole group of players, whole of English rugby and world rugby. I think he took rugby to a whole new level.”
Jeremy Guscott – Ex-England & Lions team-mate and TV pundit
“I’ll always remember playing against Newcastle early on in his career. I got tackled and thought I’d been hit by two men because it was so hard. When I looked up, it was just Jonny stood there on his own.
“I thought ‘wow, what great defence this kid has got’. He was to go on and prove that time and time again. He’s definitely the best defensive number 10 the game has ever seen.”
Stuart Lancaster – Interim England coach
“Jonny has had a fantastic international career which has spanned four World Cups and 91 caps and ranks as one of England’s greatest ever players.
“He will, of course, be remembered for that drop-goal but he is more than that, a model sportsman – down to earth and hardworking, who has never stopped trying to be the best that he can.”
YouTube credit: Hmsdistroy
I have seen the other side of gambling and the cruelty is has brought to people ,unlike this story its not glamour and glitz,family’s destroyed by debt and the years spent paying back the monies owed …
@David Dineen: well said David
@David Dineen:
Same thing can happen in any business or any other part of life.
Some succeed and some dont.
@David Dineen:
True. The unfortunate reality is that very every professional gambler like Harry making money there are probably a hundred other schmucks losing it – his 20 million didn’t magically appear out of thin air.
@David Dineen: The bookies always win, they wouldn’t be in business and making profits otherwise.
@Stephen murphy: Ivan Yates might disagree
@Stephen Maher: The difference is, business is not generally a zero-sum game. Gambling is- for one to win, someone else has to lose. Throw bookies into the equation, and with their profit margin, the gambling community overall always loses.
Gambling is addictive to a lot of people , maybe not to all , but the industry targets the addictive nature of it . There are more sob stories than happy stories , otherwise the industry would have collapsed . I believe all gambling advertising should be banned . It’s made out to be a social activity , but once hooked it becomes a destroyer of families and lives .
@Paddy Hayden: even more reason to regulate to protect people by introducing gambling authrizations.say you cannot bid monthly more than 1/3 of your salary.
@Paddy Hayden: sorry i meant to reply to Adrian instead..
@Eric: Seems like a good idea to me. It’s similar to the way some countries didn’t allow people in unless they have a ‘deposit’ so they didn’t become dependent on that state. It’s common sense to have a reserve so that you’re only gambling with what you can afford to lose. Gambling is a luxury. Why can’t gamblers see that?
Gambling is too one sided nowadays. Bookies simply refuse to pay you if you start winning too much, and they are allowed to do that as they pay the taxes to gov. The most successful wins nowadays are the big accumulators which the bookies love to promote. Maybe that’s why Harry wrote the book, maybe his payouts are getting smaller!
The rivers of Ireland are full of people who have destroyed themselves and their families through gambling addiction. Last thing society needs is someone persuading young people that gambling can pay
@techman: Well said.
@techman: But you’re missing the point, Techman. Harry doesn’t persuade young people gambling can pay. He tells HIS story. In fact, he wants to educate anyone who wants to bet – and many many thousands do so without understanding what they’re doing – how best to beat the odds. There is nowhere in the book that he glamourises gambling, as some have made out. And I’m the author!
I feel sorry for him and this addictive life style, although he may have a lot of money from it that’s beside the point, too me he is a compulsive gambler and I would not have him sit and give talks to potential vulnerable gamblers maybe if he went and got recovery and brought a bit of peace into his life rather than that madness of gambling he could possibly help that group of potential vulnerable gamblers then, but not now he is still a liability, but it’s his life and he is entitled to live it how he chooses.
‘I won 20 million ‘. Of course he probably lost the same amount. They never tell you about the losses.
@Dave Allen: Sure how long would it take to interview the nineteen million or so that lost the same bet?
He will eventually lose it all again .gambling breaks people doesnt matter how smart u are .that’s just a fact .
@Deirdre Doherty: Not all gamblers lose, there are a small few who make it pay. That’s just a fact.
@Richard Keogh: yes you are right and paddy powers is one of them
@Richard Keogh: J.P. Mcmanus is proof you are right but a very small minority
He couldn’t live without betting but doesn’t know if he’s an addict. I think it’s safe to say he’s an addict.
The Melbourne Storm won 34-6 by the way
And I bet one Euro you can’t take any of it with you.
As the author of the book, I really think a lot of you are missing the point. At no stage anywhere in the book, or in this article, does Harry ‘glamourise’ gambling. The very opposite is true. This is simply his story, told from the heart. As for those who would promote ‘gambling responsibly’ Harry has nothing but contempt. Watch this space!
@Neil Harman:
Unfortunately the reality is that every €/£ that Harry ever won came from someone else who lost it. Harry is the exception – for the vast majority gambling is a mug’s game.
@Neil Harman: I think what people mean by “glamourising gambling” is that you have painted a picture of a man who has created a large net worth and fairly luxurious existence through gambling despite the cautionary tale of his losses. I’d imagine it could be quite triggering for someone who is struggling to quit gambling.
@Liz Connell: Appreciate your comment Liz. I suppose what it comes down to is the choice between whether to gamble or not to gamble. Harry was smitten as a teenager and has never lost the buzz. His life has been quite different to many who indulge. He has had two ‘losing’ years in over 30, he’s known when to stop and when not to risk. His story is special and I don’t think, when reading it, anyone sensible enough would be persuaded that this is the life for them. On the contrary. I hope you get to read the whole book.
Think I’ll go the bookies.
@Ivan Truckrcar:
Take your coat, the bookies want it.
@Avina Laaf: nice.
@Avina Laaf: Have you seen his coat?
People used to go to the bookies mainy for Irish and UK horse-racing, now they’re betting on everything and anything, spending hours in the place, drinking free tea/coffee, eating free sandwiches/chicken nuggets – mouthing off and knowing absolutely nothing about any sport, they’re such wasters I’d say their wives send them to the bookies to get rid of them out of the way!
Gambling is going go be a major major problem in ireland over the next 5 years… yes its very bad now but its going to get worse…bookmakers glorify it, too easy access to online betting ,casinos etc.., there has to be more regulation i advertising and promotions… gambling establishments also need to be doing more to prevent problem gambling. The way its pushed in peoples faces is ridicolous.the young people of today can be easily lured in by their glorifying and glamorous portrayals.gambling addiction is going to get much worse on ireland and the govt will do feck all about it
@David Costello: I remember one Christmas in a bar in the south east and they have about 6 TVs all showing different sports. The guys were going in and out to the betting offices nearby the money going around was unreal the rolls of cash. We got talking to one lad another time there he said his biggest win ever was 2K and he lost it betting back within a few days.
There’s a famous American gambler and author called Mason Malmuth he’s huge into working out odds, well obviously he would be.
He reckons if you add up all the wins and looses over the lifetime of any gambler less than 1% of them will show a profit.
Immoral earnings
A fella who just got lucky over the years. Any man betting 10% of his net worth on one bet is a lunatic.
Won €20m, how much has he lost?
Hard to beat a good paying 9to5! I’m told!
Feel somewhat sorry for the life savings of his Gardner, Charlie. No matter what he says he is an addict and could find himself in the gutter. The gambler never wins in the long run. A sad pathetic story of addiction
I read down to the bit where it mentions ‘Hare coursing’. The sick f**k.
What odds were melbourne storm?