Toulon star Jonny Wilkinson has conceded it is 'unlikely' he will play any part of the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia this summer.
Final club
Wilkinson prolonged his illustrious career by another season in April when he signed a 12-month extension with Toulon and he has confirmed the club based in the south of France will be his last.
However, Wilkinson has no plans to walk away from the game when he eventually hangs up his boots, confirming he would love to pass on his experience through coaching.
"Toulon will be my last club for sure, because I believe in building," he said.
"Playing and coaching is about getting to know people, and to be able to do that you need to spend time. I love the place and what it's all about. I love the supporters, the team, the area, the coaches, everything about it.
"It will be my last club, and in terms of playing on, I have the same thoughts that I have towards the Lions. It's very unlikely that I see myself going on beyond this year.
"With what I've been through in my career, and the influences of [former Newcastle fitness coach and mentor] Steve Black and [kicking coach] Dave Alred, the individual side of skills coaching and mental approach - the emotion side of it - those angles inspire me enormously. I have a huge enthusiasm for that kind of coaching.
"I would like to think that everything happens for a reason and all the stuff I've done, in terms of work off the field and my preparation for games, is something I can research further and hopefully benefit other people and help them take their game where they want to take it."
Wilkinson has enjoyed great club success with Toulon since leaving Newcastle although it has been suggested that he should have departed sooner.
The fly-half won 91 caps for England and insists it benefited him to go through the hard times with the north-east club to fully appreciate what he has now.
"I learned so much from Newcastle, and that's the bit you can't put a value on. I don't think I'd be able to do what I do without going through the hard times at Newcastle.
"Also, I always ask myself what I can do for a club, as opposed to what the club can do for me. You never know how important experiences will be for the rest of your career."
Opportunity
Wilkinson has played rugby union throughout his professional career, but he has revealed he had the opportunity to link up with Super League club Wigan Warriors prior to joining Toulon.
The veteran is fond of the other code and saw the chance to join Wigan as an 'amazing opportunity', however, it was one he had to reject as he did not want to run the risk of sustaining an injury playing an unfamiliar sport.
"There was an offer before I joined Toulon to go and cut my teeth with Wigan for a month," he said.
"I'm not sure whether I would have been just training, playing lower games, or to do anything, but I thought it was an amazing opportunity. I love rugby league - Wigan is my team.
"The squad they've got is incredible at the minute and I wish them all the best. I would have loved to do it but, at the time, my knee injury was only just getting back and, having just signed for Toulon, I had to make sure I respected them by turning up in the best shape possible.
"Getting injured doing something in a game I didn't know so well would have been dangerous."
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