England legend Jonny Wilkinson admits he sometimes wished he had retired from international rugby sooner.
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Owen Farrell, England’s top scorer, left Test rugby after last year’s World Cup to focus on his and his family’s mental well-being.
Wilkinson, a World Cup, two Champions Cups, and Top 14 title winner, scored nearly 4,000 points, achieving iconic status in a stellar career.
Speaking exclusively to Planet Rugby, he said: “I would be walking up and down the hotel corridor balling my eyes out,
“Phoning people at midnight, locking myself in the room, trying to get out of games, thinking before the game ‘shit, shall I go and tell the physio I’ve got a bad hamstring’.
“The opportunity was there for me to think ‘I could have a year out’, but that inner part of me was like, ‘it will be gone if you do’.
“Owen has taken that risk,” he added, “of being like ‘I’m taking a year out. It could all be gone, but I’m doing this for my health’. I admire him so much for that.
“You know the compulsive side is ‘I’ve got to win, I’ve got to have my name higher than everyone else’s’. But the truth says ‘I have to look after my soul. And when I find that I’ll inspire everyone’.”
Read his full interview with Planet Rugby here.
Louis Rees-Zammit’s dating history:
Her certainly has a type…
After an intensive 10-week training program, Rees-Zammit signed with the Chiefs and is now eyeing a spot on the final 53-man roster. His rise in the sporting world has been meteoric, capturing the attention of fans and media alike.
But it’s not just his professional life making headlines. Rees-Zammit’s personal life has also been a hot topic, featuring relationships with high-profile personalities, from a Premier League legend’s daughter to a famous YouTuber and a notable model/DJ.
Alicia Scholes
In December 2019, before his international debut for Wales, Rees-Zammit posted a photo of himself playing for Gloucester. Alicia Scholes, daughter of football legend Paul Scholes, humorously suggested an England debut was imminent, despite Rees-Zammit’s Welsh roots. He firmly replied, “Wales*”.
In a BBC interview, Rees-Zammit spoke about his past relationship with Alicia, a professional netball player for London Pulse. He revealed the light-hearted attempts by her father to sway him towards England, which he steadfastly resisted.
Alicia and her father Paul found themselves in the spotlight in 2021 due to a viral video that led to playful banter among rival supporters.