England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson signed a contract extension with French Top 14 club Toulon for a further season with an option for a second on Monday, in a move which could spell the end of his international career.
The 80-time England international will continue playing for the southern French outfit until 2013.
Club president Mourad Boudjellal revealed 10 days ago that the 31-year-old was committed to extending his contract.
“It’s magic because Jonny is perhaps the best player in the Top 14 and he’s the one who gives us the least stress. It seems only natural that he should stay here. It feels as if he’s always been here,” he said.
Wilkinson, whose extra-time drop-goal won the 2003 World Cup for England, arrived at Toulon in the summer last year from Newcastle and scored 302 points in his first season in France. This season he is the top scorer in the French league with 169 points.
However, his decision to stay in France could have serious implications for his international career after the Rugby Football Union (RFU) decided to only select players from domestic clubs after next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Wilkinson has not started a Test for England since the Six Nations clash with Scotland in March after a shoulder injury kept him out of the autumn internationals.