Jonny Wilkinson has touched down in France and The Times' Mark Souster sees the budding seeds of 'Jonnymania'.
"Jonny Wilkinson arrived in the South of France yesterday to start house hunting in preparation for his new life on the Côte d’Azur. He will today be formally presented to an expectant public in Toulon who still cannot quite believe that one of the world’s greatest players is joining them next season.
“I don’t think Jonny appreciates how excited people are by him coming here,” Tom Whitford, the Toulon team manager, said. “He is an icon. The town is so unbelievably passionate about rugby and for him to be here is a real coup for us and the region.”
"Anthony Hill, the general manager at nearby Nice, was less circumspect. “The place is going bonkers at Jonny’s arrival,” he said.
Wilkinson, who was 30 on Monday, admits he is not sure what to expect this lunchtime at the Stade Mayor. He will, however, take it in his stride and feel genuinely humbled that people care so much about him. Jonnymania is about to begin afresh but this time around he is keen to embrace it rather than try to run and hide."
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