Jonny Wilkinson has made his feelings clear on the prospect of his child following in his footsteps – and there will be no pressure from the England legend.
The former Newcastle Falcons and Toulon fly-half remains one of rugby's most recognisable figures, having kicked England to World Cup glory in 2003.
However, Wilkinson has spoken candidly about the enormous pressure he placed on himself during his career and how that experience has influenced his approach to parenthood.
Speaking before becoming a father, Wilkinson discussed how he would react if a future child wanted to pursue sport.
“I would hope to high heaven that if I had a boy, he would not get, or have, the same mind-set I had,” he said.
“A lot of the pressure of my career I put on myself, the way I live life. And it was hell a lot of the time.”
Wilkinson has previously explained that he would rather see his child discover their own talents than attempt to recreate his remarkable rugby career.
“I’d see it as a waste if I saw my son going through it the same way.”
He added: “I want him [to] follow his talents whatever they may turn out to be.”
No pressure from Wilkinson
Wilkinson has since become a parent and offered a fascinating insight into how that philosophy works in practice.
During an appearance on the High Performance Podcast, Wilkinson was asked what he would do if his daughter showed an aptitude for sport and developed the same drive for perfection he possessed.
His answer made his approach clear.
“I don't own anyone. They're not mine. I don't know them.”
Wilkinson explained that he doesn't want to impose expectations on his child, instead describing his role as being “a constant opportunity to explore.”
He would happily pass on the technical knowledge accumulated during one of rugby's greatest careers.
But when it comes to mindset, Wilkinson believes that decision belongs to the individual.
“I can't give anything to do with who you are, how you should see things. That's a choice.”
He added: “If I start reaching into that, I'm trying to shape someone.”
The conversation was revisited by High Performance in 2026, with Wilkinson's struggles with perfectionism and his relationship with success again taking centre stage.
It's a subject the World Cup winner has explored repeatedly since retiring, including how his relentless pursuit of perfection sometimes prevented him from enjoying his extraordinary achievements.
So if Wilkinson's child does eventually follow him into sport, the message appears simple: he'll provide the knowledge, but not the pressure.
