Jonny Wilkinson broke up with Sky Sports presenter during dark period

04/20/2025 03:55 PM

Jonny Wilkinson, the man who led England to World Cup glory in 2003, has remained a national hero ever since.

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But while his sporting achievements are legendary, it's his personal journey that has seen some surprising turns.

A French Romance On October 21, 2013, Wilkinson tied the knot with Shelley Jenkins, his girlfriend of eight years. The ceremony was a private affair in Bandol, on the French Riviera, not far from Toulon. Today, the couple has a son, believed to be named James.

From Struggles to Strength Wilkinson has been open about the mental health challenges he faced following his World Cup triumph, particularly during his time off the field due to injuries. However, meeting Shelley helped him regain his perspective and improve his outlook on life.

A New Beginning Jonny and Shelley's relationship blossomed after Jonny’s split from Sky Sports presenter Diana Stewart in 2005. At the time, Diana was just starting her career with Sky, covering a variety of sports, including golf, tennis, boxing, football, and rugby, before becoming the host of ‘Golf Night’.

Rugby: The Strain on Relationships A friend of Wilkinson's explained the toll rugby took on his personal life, saying: “It is the same with all his relationships; rugby got in the way then as it is doing now. He’s just so committed to the sport that there is no room for anything else.”

Diana’s Reflections Diana, who later married European Tour golfer Nick Dougherty in December 2010, reflected on their breakup: “We are not in a relationship at the moment, but we are still very close. Jonny and I speak every day, but the two of us have a lot of things going on in our lives. There was no one particular thing. A lot of factors played a part in the decision. Even so, we are still incredibly supportive of each other. It works well.”

Life After Jonny Diana moved on after her split from Wilkinson, dating Declan Donnelly of Ant & Dec before marrying Dougherty.

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5 Big-Name Stars Set to Miss Out on the Lions Squad – Including Finn Russell!

With the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad announcement just around the corner, the rumour mill is already in overdrive. Andy Farrell's selection promises to be one of the boldest in recent history—and not everyone is safe.

While some players have all but booked their tickets to Australia, others are sweating bullets. Whether it's poor form, fierce competition, or a coach with long memories, a few major names could be on the chopping block.

Here are five shock omissions we think are on the cards—and why their Lions dreams might be dead before the squad is even named…

1. Russell’s Rollercoaster Could Crash Early

Finn Russell (Scotland)

Moments of magic? Always. But consistency? Not so much. Russell's 2025 Six Nations was a mixed bag at best. A missed conversion against England and a disastrous showing versus France have left serious questions about his big-game temperament.

Add in the appointment of Johnny Sexton as Lions assistant coach, and things start looking bleak. In his autobiography, Sexton slammed Russell's 2021 selection as a media-driven hype job—and he hasn't softened since.

"If you want someone reliable in the trenches, you go with Owen Farrell," Sexton recently told The Times, taking a not-so-subtle dig at Russell's "flashy" style. He even spared Marcus Smith, calling him a "generational talent." Finn? Not so lucky.

2. Ringrose Running Out of Time

Garry Ringrose (Ireland)

Not long ago, Ringrose looked like a nailed-on Lion. But a rocky Six Nations campaign could have sunk his chances. He was solid in Ireland's first couple of games, then saw red against Wales and missed the crunch clash with France. His return against Italy? Ropey.

He's still a classy operator on his day, but with Farrell spoiled for choice in the midfield, Ringrose may find himself edged out by younger, more in-form options.

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