Jonny Wilkinson, the man who broke Australian rugby fans' hearts in the 2003 World Cup final, says a return to the England team is no longer high on his priority list.

The injury-plagued 29-year-old, who was ruled out of the ongoing autumn internationals with a dislocated knee, has looked for help in Buddhism and believes his new spiritual outlook has given him a different perspective on his life and career.

"If I wanted to play for England I could maybe get back in there like I did before, and I could hang in there for a bit and not really enjoy myself," Wilkinson told the BBC.

"I could squeeze through a few games and spend the end of the week slumming into my pillow and (trying to) find a way to get through, not get much sleep and work towards the next one, finish my career and work out what to do with myself.

"Or I can have a fantastic time, with whichever team I'm with, trying to help them get better, and let the best of me come out."

He added: "The key for me is going out there and playing without fear and being the best I can be.

"If I'm being the best I can be, there is nothing else. It's irrelevant being an England player or not."

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