England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has signed a new two-year contract that will keep him at Toulon until the summer of 2013, the French Top 14 club have confirmed.
The 31-year-old had been widely expected to extend his stay in the south of France after making a major impact following his move from Newcastle in the summer of 2009.
However, the decision puts him at odds with the Rugby Football Union’s stance that England will not pick any players plying their trade overseas following the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
A statement on the Toulon website read: “This Monday, December 27, 2010 early in the afternoon, fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, the England international, has extended his contract with Toulon for two seasons (one option).”