Newcastle and England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is holding discussions with French side Toulon about a big-money move in the summer.

Philippe Saint-Andre, who takes over as Toulon’s director of rugby on 1 July, told BBC Sport: “Jonny’s people are in talks with the Toulon chairman.

“I would obviously like to have as many good players as possible next season and Jonny is a top-quality player.”

Paris side Racing Metro are also interested in signing the 29-year-old.

Wilkinson’s agent, Tim Buttimore, confirmed that talks with Toulon were “ongoing” but said he could not reveal any details.

He added that Wilkinson had not been personally involved in the negotiations as he was “fully focused on getting back to fitness with Newcastle”.

Wilkinson, who has suffered a string of injuries in recent years, has not played since dislocating his knee playing for the Falcons against Gloucester on 30 September.

Toulon are bankrolled by millionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal and already boast Jerry Collins, Tana Umaga, Joe van Niekerk and Sonny Bill Williams on their playing staff, while the likes of George Gregan and Victor Matfield have also played for the club on short-term deals.

But Toulon have still not ensured their survival in France’s Top 14 and Saint-Andre, who is currently director of rugby at Sale Sharks, admitted it was not a foregone conclusion that Wilkinson would join the club.

“I have heard that a couple of other French clubs are in for him and there is also of course the option for him to stay at Newcastle,” he said.

If Wilkinson does move to France, he would become the fifth high-profile England player to commit to playing in the Top 14 next season.

Fly-half Andy Goode moved to Brive last summer and Riki Flutey will join him there at the end of the season, while James Haskell and Tom Palmer have signed for Stade Francais.

Wilkinson’s ongoing injury problems meant he lost his place in the elite player squad earlier this year, but he would be sure to be in contention for a return if fully fit.

The Rugby Football Union has made no secret of its concerns about this French exodus.

Last month RFU chief executive Francis Baron sent a letter to all members of the elite squad warning they could jeopardise their England chances if they moved to France.

Wilkinson has not played for England since coming on as a substitute in the Six Nations win over Ireland on 15 March 2008.

He has not played any rugby after dislocating his knee at the end of September and looks unlikely to make a comeback against Bath at Kingston Park on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Toulon would guarantee their top-division status with victory over league leaders Toulouse at a sold-out Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday.

They are currently 12th in the 14-team league, eight points ahead of Dax, with the bottom two sides going down at the end of the season

Jonny Wilkinson insists Newcastle’s decision to split with fitness coach Steve Black does not mean he will end his own association with the Falcons.
 
Black’s departure has led to rumours the 28-year-old England fly-half could leave when his contract ends next year.

But Wilkinson told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It doesn’t work as simply as that.

“I’ve always been so, so happy at Newcastle because I’ve always felt it is somewhere for me to get better and develop and to make things happen.”
 
Wilkinson added he would decide where his future lay once he had considered both his “personal happiness” and the requirements of the club.

“I’ve always assessed everything and I will do exactly the same thing – and I’m sure the club will do exactly the same thing – this year,” he said.

Wilkinson, who was born in Surrey, joined the Falcons after leaving school in 1997.

He made an instant impact, helping the club win the Premiership title in 1998. They also won the Powergen Cup in 2001 and 2004.

There has been success on the international stage for Wilkinson, too.

His drop-goal gave England victory in the 2003 World Cup and he was also part of the team that lost out to South Africa in this year’s final.

Unfortunately for Wilkinson, injuries have wreaked havoc with his career, denying him the opportunity to cement his place as one of the world’s top stars.

Some people – fellow professionals among them – have also questioned his loyalty to Newcastle, suggesting he should be playing for a bigger club with more chance of winning trophies.

Wherever he ends up, Wilkinson has confirmed he will continue to work with Black, who left Kingston Park by “mutual consent” on Monday.

“He’s been there from day dot, we’ve always worked together,” said the World Cup winner.

“It’s a relationship that will never stop. In my opinion, he’s the best at what he does by a country mile and he adds so much to everyone he works with.

“In professional sport he’s the closest person I’ve got and he’s everything to me.

“He’s a guy who I’d go to with advice about everything. He’s a person who helps me grow as an individual and helps me understand things.

“He will always have the same part in my life, wherever he is.”

Newcastle Falcons full-back Matt Burke will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury in Sunday’s 33-20 defeat by Bath.

Scans revealed the World Cup-winning Australian has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee.

“The advice from the medical team is that this injury carries a nine-month rehabilitation period,” said Falcons director of rugby John Fletcher.

“We are absolutely devastated as a team, but more importantly for Matt.”

The 34-year-old Burke, who helped the Wallabies win the 1999 World Cup in Wales, has scored 430 points during his three-year stay at Kingston Park.

This season he has notched 38 points, including two tries.