Rugby Union: Wilkinson Fit for Return to Ranks

Jonny Wilkinson insisted yesterday that he would be fit for the start of the Premiership season. The England fly-half has been back in training with Newcastle having taken a break after the British and Irish Lions' 3-0 whitewash by New Zealand, and maintained he had fully recovered from the "stinger injury" to his neck and shoulder which made him miss the final Test.

"I'm starting with a clean sheet," he said as he prepared for the Falcons' pre-season tour of Japan next week. "I don't believe in injury jinxes. Just because I had a knee injury which followed a neck operation doesn't mean I'm injury-jinxed.

"I'll admit it's been a hell of a period and it's amazing how your life can change when you seem to be sailing along OK. To have all of what I enjoyed doing stripped away from me twice in succession seemed almost too much to bear, but I have grown up a lot, learned to be more laid back and it's taught me to go out there and enjoy it."

Colin Charvis will succeed him as Newcastle captain this season and the change meets with Wilkinson's approval. "I expect Colin to do exactly as he did at the end of last season which is to lead from the front," he said. "He seemed to be everywhere, which made the number on his back largely irrelevant.

"I can't see not being captain will change my role in the team very much. I see myself as a leader and directing things, and I doubt whether it will stop me shouting like I usually do. But it's nice to have Charvs taking on the captaincy role and allowing me to concentrate on doing my own thing."

Newcastle's coach Rob Andrew believes he has made the right decision on the captaincy. "There are no problems with Jonny's shoulder but we do need to get him back on the horse as soon as possible," he said.

"We had two attempts last season and so did the Lions and we feel he needs a bit of space, which is why we have gone for Colin as captain. We have bolstered our squad and in my opinion this is the best squad we have had in my time here."

The New Zealand flanker Marty Holah, 28, is in talks with Saracens after failing to agree a new deal with Waikato and the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Holah, who has won 33 caps, is on New Zealand's bench against Australia tomorrow but he has been on the fringe of the squad during the 20-month tenure of the coach Graham Henry, fuelling speculation that he is ready to sacrifice his international career for a pay day in Europe.