Sir Jonny Wilkinson?

England rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson to be knighted in New Year's Honours next week

Rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson is to set to ­receive a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year Honours next week.

The 35-year-old, who ­inspired England to World Cup glory in Sydney in 2003, has had a glittering 17-year career.

But he is also being ­recognised for his ­extensive charity work in Britain, including for the NSPCC, and in France, where he played for Toulon for five years.

A well-placed source said tonight: “Jonny is one of Britain’s greatest-ever sportsmen.

“He has always represented England with distinction. He is a hero and a shining example to millions around the world. He thoroughly deserves this.”

Wilkinson, who played fly-half and inside centre, announced his retirement from rugby union in May. He spent 12 seasons with Newcastle Falcons before joining Toulon in 2009.

His performance in the Sydney World Cup earned him the OBE in the 2004 New Year Honours list.

Wilkinson kicked a last-minute drop-goal in extra time to seal victory over Australia in the final – and had earlier kicked all of England’s points in their 24-7 semi-final win over France.

In 2007, he overtook Gavin Hastings as the tournament’s all-time high-scorer.

He became the first player to pass 1,000 points for England in 2008, overtaking Argentine Hugo Porta’s world record, and the next month was confirmed as test ­rugby’s leading scorer.

Wilkinson is one of just five men to score more than 1,000 points in international rugby and the only player to score points in two separate World Cup finals.

He married long-term ­girlfriend Shelley in 2013 and has won BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The star has been tipped for a knighthood repeatedly though his career was blighted by injuries.

Also in the same article in The Mirror

"Meanwhile, other winners in the honours list, which will be unveiled officially on Wednesday, include Joan Collins.

The actress, who starred in Dynasty and Benidorm, will be made a Dame in recognition of 60 years in the industry.

There is also an OBE for Gavin and Stacey star James Corden."

In good company with Sir Clive Woodward.

This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

Gwlad wrote:In good company with Sir Clive Woodward.

And Joan Collins..!

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

Yep, extremely well-deserved. Ignore the WUMs

It is a good choice. Very deserved. I'd always assumed he already was Sir Jonny though (probably confused between knighthood and the OBE)

maestegmafia wrote:
There is also an OBE for Gavin and Stacey star James Corden."

can't stand the guy, or the f**king programme .

Good for Johnny though, he is a great ambassador for the sport. Also, I always thought 'Sir Mike Phillips' had a nice ring to it .

Saint,

I couldn't agree more about that fat mess James Corden. Dispise the guy almost as much as I dispise Ricky Gervais.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Saint,

I couldn't agree more about that fat mess James Corden.  Dispise the guy almost as much as I dispise Ricky Gervais.  

Bingo. Neither of them are even remotely funny. What irked me more about Gavin and Stacey is that when it first came on everyone I knew was constantly talking about it. It was inescapable. Glad that and the Office has finished.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

I am sure Jonny will be one of those rare people who will give the same respect to the Honour that the Honour bestows on him.

doctor_grey wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

I am sure Jonny will be one of those rare people who will give the same respect to the Honour that the Honour bestows on him.    

Doc, I'm sure that you are right in your quote, and this is NOT an anti Jonny or England rant, it is faintly ludicrous if it is true that he is getting this award, and the man who is recognised as the greatest rugby player ever by many in both hemispheres, has supported numerous charities since retiring and there have been a number of petitions for him to be knighted, I know he has had lesser awards, he deserves this award

Wilko deserves the honour based on those that have received it in the past. He is certainly more deserving than some also. However, titles in the UK are a load of nonsense IMO. He deserves to be remembered as a great but calling him Sir is utter pomposity in my opinion.

The Saint wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:
There is also an OBE for Gavin and Stacey star James Corden."

can't stand the guy, or the f**king programme .

Good for Johnny though, he is a great ambassador for the sport. Also, I always thought 'Sir Mike Phillips' had a nice ring to it .

I do like the program but can't stand Corden or Gervais.

wayne wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

I am sure Jonny will be one of those rare people who will give the same respect to the Honour that the Honour bestows on him.    

Doc, I'm sure that you are right in your quote, and this is NOT an anti Jonny or England rant, it is faintly ludicrous if it is true that he is getting this award, and the man who is recognised as the greatest rugby player ever by many in both hemispheres, has supported numerous charities since retiring and there have been a number of petitions for him to be knighted, I know he has had lesser awards, he deserves this award

This is the problem with these awards though, yes when you go by the common sporting thread then Gareth deserves it to BUT there are people all over the UK from all 4 countries who do tireless amounts of charity work, work in the community etc etc who don't get rewarded and they do it off their own back not on the back of what they have achieved in other fields.

Johnny kicked the drop goal but the real stars were the likes of Johnson and Hill, now they really were greats of the game!

A tad premature.

What about those from the UK who haven't either... Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Jonno are the 3 that spring the mind the most.

More so Gavin Hastings...! If any player has done above and beyond for charity (mainly neuro related) as well as the game then there would be few amongst the game to have contributed so much. Likewise with Jonathan Davies. What he has achieved raise funds to battle cancer has been remarkable.

Jonny, as an Englishman, has succeeded in becoming as well-loved (if not more so) in France than even in England/UK. If that doesn't guarantee greatness I don't know what will.

What next? Légion d'honneur?

Cyril wrote:Jonny, as an Englishman, has succeeded in becoming as well-loved (if not more so) in France than even in England/UK. If that doesn't guarantee greatness I don't know what will.

What next? Légion d'honneur?

I wonder how much they love him in Toulouse, Claremont, Paris, Barritz, Montepiller etc etc?

fa0019 wrote:

Cyril wrote:Jonny, as an Englishman, has succeeded in becoming as well-loved (if not more so) in France than even in England/UK. If that doesn't guarantee greatness I don't know what will.

What next? Légion d'honneur?

I wonder how much they love him in Toulouse, Claremont, Paris, Barritz, Montepiller etc etc?

Everybody loves Jonny. Even the Welsh

doctor_grey wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

I am sure Jonny will be one of those rare people who will give the same respect to the Honour that the Honour bestows on him.    

Can someone clarify why it is an honour to be knighted, obe/mbe/cbe, and why someone with these deserves more respect than your normal work a day bloke? Why do celebs/sports people get 'honoured' for doing their job, when Dai the bricky who worked his rump off labouring from the age of 16-65+ is expected to do that because it is his job?

The whole Sir/MBE/CBE/OBE stuff is just farcical celeb worship.

fa0019 wrote:A tad premature.

What about those from the UK who haven't either... Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Jonno are the 3 that spring the mind the most.

Didn't Gareth Edwards turn it down?

I can think of plenty more deserving recipients, but also plenty holders who deserve it less.

I place little stock in these things, but have no real objection to Wilkinson being singled out for this. In the world of pro sport there are few better role models than Wilkinson and his fame and success appear not to have turned him into an utter tw4t, which you come to expect these days.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

I am sure Jonny will be one of those rare people who will give the same respect to the Honour that the Honour bestows on him.    

Can someone clarify why it is an honour to be knighted, obe/mbe/cbe, and why someone with these deserves more respect than your normal work a day bloke?  Why do celebs/sports people get 'honoured' for doing their job, when Dai the bricky who worked his rump off labouring from the age of 16-65+ is expected to do that because it is his job?

The whole Sir/MBE/CBE/OBE stuff is just farcical celeb worship.

Couldnt agree more.

GunsGerms wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

I am sure Jonny will be one of those rare people who will give the same respect to the Honour that the Honour bestows on him.    

Can someone clarify why it is an honour to be knighted, obe/mbe/cbe, and why someone with these deserves more respect than your normal work a day bloke?  Why do celebs/sports people get 'honoured' for doing their job, when Dai the bricky who worked his rump off labouring from the age of 16-65+ is expected to do that because it is his job?

The whole Sir/MBE/CBE/OBE stuff is just farcical celeb worship.

Couldnt agree more.

I also totally agree, the point I was trying to make is if these awards are to be made, there are far more deserving recipients than Wilkinson, he's not even the best 10 in his own generation and as some others have stated there are even English rugby players who would be more deserving.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

I am sure Jonny will be one of those rare people who will give the same respect to the Honour that the Honour bestows on him.    

Can someone clarify why it is an honour to be knighted, obe/mbe/cbe, and why someone with these deserves more respect than your normal work a day bloke?  Why do celebs/sports people get 'honoured' for doing their job, when Dai the bricky who worked his rump off labouring from the age of 16-65+ is expected to do that because it is his job?

The whole Sir/MBE/CBE/OBE stuff is just farcical celeb worship.

Someone can be given a title or an award but it doesn't mean you have to respect or worship them if you don't want to. It's your choice.

It doesn't harm you in any way whatsoever for Jonny to be knighted. It's simply showing appreciation of a notable sportsperson.

I guess you think that support of the Queen is farcical celeb worship too?

beshocked wrote:

Someone can be given a title or an award but it doesn't mean you have to respect or worship them if you don't want to. It's your choice.

It doesn't harm you in any way whatsoever for Jonny to be knighted. It's simply showing appreciation of a notable sportsperson.

I guess you think that support of the Queen is farcical celeb worship too?

I have been told before that I should refer to Alex Ferguson by his title. I dont recognise British titles though and I think he is undeserving of a title anyway so will never refer to him by a title. I do respect Clive Woodward a lot though but would still never call him Sir.

Really you've been told that? I recognise British titles on when I feel like it - Sir Jonny = good, Alex or Clive = not bothered to be honest.

Both Alex and Clive have colossally large egos that don't make them particularly likable.

If I met them in person or if I talked to them in correspondence I would probably call them Sir to be polite but not on a random forum!

If, or as ex Military when I have met someone with the title I do address them accordingly comes with nature of the job I guess but like others I don't use it in conversation despite having typed SCW on here before now.

The debate about honours will always rage I am neither here nor there on them but when I look at some who have got them and some who haven't that does get me peeved at times.

As for JW well again going by some who have got it then he is up there with the likes of Chris Hoy, Steve Redgrave etc and far more worthy than others in the context of why he is getting it.

Think you would need a massive ego to want a title anyway. Have you ever been called Sir or something in a restaraunt or shop etc. and felt uncomfortable by it? It always feels a little uncomfortable to me anyway and Im not even that self deprecating.

[quote="GunsGerms"]Think you would need a massive ego to want a title anyway.

Plenty of them out there

GunsGerms wrote:Have you ever been called Sir or something in a restaraunt or shop etc. and felt uncomfortable by it? It always feels a little uncomfortable to me anyway and Im not even that self deprecating.

Would you prefer they called you "mate"?

In shops/restaurants, it's just a polite form of address as they don't know you (or your name).

I'm not a big one for titles, but I don't know why people get so uncomfortable about it. I treat everyone as equals and expect the same. If someone deserves respect you respect them.

I like the idea of the honours system, just not necessarily who gets chosen.

bedfordwelsh wrote:
As for JW well again going by some who have got it then he is up there with the likes of Chris Hoy, Steve Redgrave etc

Here now, this isn't the place for slagging off Jonny.

GunsGerms wrote:Think you would need a massive ego to want a title anyway. Have you ever been called Sir or something in a restaraunt

Well that would be the least I'd expect guns - especially if I was supersizing my order.

GunsGerms wrote:Think you would need a massive ego to want a title anyway. Have you ever been called Sir or something in a restaraunt or shop etc. and felt uncomfortable by it? It always feels a little uncomfortable to me anyway and Im not even that self deprecating.

I'd like a title and I consider my ego merely medium sized.

Your best chance is to go back to college and study medicine.

Guns - why so anti a system that doesn't affect you or Ireland?

The subject of honours/awards has raised its head in Ireland many times recently so long as it's 'civic' based and not 'monarchy' based (impossible as there are no longer any Irish monarchs).

Quite a few Irish citizens have applied to the Irish government to be allowed to accept Britsh awards (MBEs etc.). The Corrs and Pat Eddery spring to mind.

Surprising that that the folks againsts these awards are a few Welsh or Irish...

nathan wrote:Surprising that that the folks againsts these awards are either Welsh or Irish...

Welsh here and not against them also not offended by your rather sweeping unproven statement.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

I am sure Jonny will be one of those rare people who will give the same respect to the Honour that the Honour bestows on him.    

Can someone clarify why it is an honour to be knighted, obe/mbe/cbe, and why someone with these deserves more respect than your normal work a day bloke?  Why do celebs/sports people get 'honoured' for doing their job, when Dai the bricky who worked his rump off labouring from the age of 16-65+ is expected to do that because it is his job?

The whole Sir/MBE/CBE/OBE stuff is just farcical celeb worship.

I don't think you understand the award to be honest, it isn't just about them doing their job. It's about them getting to the very top of their field and also doing a tremendous amount of work for charity.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

nathan wrote:Surprising that that the folks againsts these awards are either Welsh or Irish...

Welsh here and not against them also not offended by your rather sweeping unproven statement.

Edited for you

Hound of Harrow wrote:Guns - why so anti a system that doesn't affect you or Ireland?

The subject of honours/awards has raised its head in Ireland many times recently so long as it's 'civic' based and not 'monarchy' based (impossible as there are no longer any Irish monarchs).

Quite a few Irish citizens have applied to the Irish government to be allowed to accept Britsh awards (MBEs etc.). The Corrs and Pat Eddery spring to mind.

I am mainly against the idea of calling some like Alex Ferguson Sir. I dont like football much and therefore have no allegiances but feel he is a hideous character and it makes me cringe when people refer to him that way. I dislike it when people insist that you should call people by their title too.

I like the British monarchs as people but dont believe in monarchies at all but thats a different story altogether.

Quite a few Irish people have turned their honours down too. That said I dont have any issue with people like Tony O'Reilly etc. accepting theirs if that what they want to do.

GunsGerms wrote:
I like the British monarchs as people but dont believe in monarchies at all but thats a different story altogether.

For most people it's the other way around!

Why would anyone believe in monarchies? Seems like a massive waste of money.

Tradition, preserving heritage, history, tourism revenue etc., those sorts of reasons.

GunsGerms wrote:

Hound of Harrow wrote:Guns - why so anti a system that doesn't affect you or Ireland?

The subject of honours/awards has raised its head in Ireland many times recently so long as it's 'civic' based and not 'monarchy' based (impossible as there are no longer any Irish monarchs).

Quite a few Irish citizens have applied to the Irish government to be allowed to accept Britsh awards (MBEs etc.). The Corrs and Pat Eddery spring to mind.

I am mainly against the idea of calling some like Alex Ferguson Sir. I dont like football much and therefore have no allegiances but feel he is a hideous character and it makes me cringe when people refer to him that way. I dislike it when people insist that you should call people by their title too.

I like the British monarchs as people but dont believe in monarchies at all but thats a different story altogether.

Quite a few Irish people have turned their honours down too. That said I dont have any issue with people like Tony O'Reilly etc. accepting theirs if that what they want to do.

No worries. I respect your pov, and can understand it. Many of my friends are Irish and some don't like our monarchy*. Possibly for historical reasons given past British involvement in Ireland.

* My stepmother was an odd one; a staunch republican from West Belfast but she loved the monarchy and the pageantry.

beshocked wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

I am sure Jonny will be one of those rare people who will give the same respect to the Honour that the Honour bestows on him.    

Can someone clarify why it is an honour to be knighted, obe/mbe/cbe, and why someone with these deserves more respect than your normal work a day bloke?  Why do celebs/sports people get 'honoured' for doing their job, when Dai the bricky who worked his rump off labouring from the age of 16-65+ is expected to do that because it is his job?

The whole Sir/MBE/CBE/OBE stuff is just farcical celeb worship.

Someone can be given a title or an award but it doesn't mean you have to respect or worship them if you don't want to. It's your choice.

It doesn't harm you in any way whatsoever for Jonny to be knighted. It's simply showing appreciation of a notable sportsperson.

I guess you think that support of the Queen is farcical celeb worship too?

Spot on. She's no more important to me than any other person who lives in a council house and lives of benefits.

Anyway, I don't want the thread to get political.

Wilkinson is deserving of the award, and we have a history of recognising our sporting winners. However, if people look at the full list of the various awards  they will find that the majority are ordinary folk who have been recognised for their charity work and service to society.

nathan wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:This would be a great choice if it's true.
There isn't a better ambassador for our sport & one of the best role models for youngsters.

I am sure Jonny will be one of those rare people who will give the same respect to the Honour that the Honour bestows on him.    

Can someone clarify why it is an honour to be knighted, obe/mbe/cbe, and why someone with these deserves more respect than your normal work a day bloke?  Why do celebs/sports people get 'honoured' for doing their job, when Dai the bricky who worked his rump off labouring from the age of 16-65+ is expected to do that because it is his job?

The whole Sir/MBE/CBE/OBE stuff is just farcical celeb worship.

I don't think you understand the award to be honest, it isn't just about them doing their job. It's about them getting to the very top of their field and also doing a tremendous amount of work for charity.

I think you don't understand my objection,.

A top class road sweeper who puts all his spare change in the charity box at the post office, is just as important and noble a person, if not more noble, than a professional storts star. If anything pro sports people have their player of the year awards, their sports personality of the year etc. What do the work a day folk have? A minor few do get an honour, but let's face it compared to celebs/sports people next to no commoners get any notice.