Wilkinson to make league comeback

Jonny Wilkinson will make his long-awaited Zurich Premiership return when Newcastle tackle Worcester in their opening game of the season on Sunday.

England’s mercurial fly-half starts a league game for the first time since suffering a career-threatening neck and shoulder injury against Northampton last December.

Wilkinson subsequently underwent surgery and was out of rugby for almost eight months, but he has completed three successful comeback appearances during the past fortnight in games against Connacht, Munster and Pertemps Bees.