Jonny out of tour

Jonny Wilkinson has finally abandoned all hope of an England comeback until next season amid assurances that he will return in September 'fitter than ever'.

Sir Clive Woodward followed a breakfast meeting in Newcastle with his World Cup winner by dismissing fears that he had suffered any adverse effects following his neck operation three months ago.

'Jonny will be back for the autumn internationals,' he said. 'In time he will look back on this period as the best thing that could have happened at this stage of his career.'

Wilkinson held out until the 11th hour in the forlorn hope of recovering to make the England squad which Woodward names next week for next month's Tests in New Zealand and Australia. His absence means he will have missed all eight post-World Cup internationals.

According to club and country, he will be fit to play against Canada at Twickenham in November, which is a warm-up for the rematch against Australia on the first anniversary of the World Cup Final.

Since Sydney, Wilkinson has played 53 minutes of competitive rugby - for Newcastle against Northampton 20 weeks ago when one blow too many to his neck and shoulder forced him to seek a surgical cure.

His next match is scheduled to be for his club in a pre-season friendly in August. Newcastle rugby director Rob Andrew said: 'The medics are very happy with his progress. There has been considerable improvement over the last month and that will continue. We have never seen him train as hard as he has over the last four months.

'Even before the World Cup we talked about him taking six months off for his own long-term benefit, to refresh himself mentally and physically from the massive demands of the competition. He wasn't keen, but in time he will look back on this enforced break as a blessing in disguise.'

Former England prop Jason Leonard took the World Cup on a tour of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital yesterday. 'It was a real privilege for me,' he said. 'I hope seeing the Cup brightened their day.'