England World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson said he feels "like a kid again" after agreeing a two-year deal to join Toulon.

The 29-year-old, who finally signed yesterday after months of discussion, said he was in need of a new challenge after 12 years with the Newcastle Falcons.

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"A fresh start, I feel, is what I need and I will get it there [Toulon]," he wrote in his column for The Times.

Wilkinson also explained that although he had signed for two years he retained the option of cancelling after just one.

"That was my decision because I want to stay in control of my future, but I would hope and expect it to be a success and for me to re-sign for longer. And I hope this will be the springboard to what I see as another five years in my career," he added.

"I hope it will give me the games to rebuild an international career, too. I haven't played, for obvious reasons, and so I haven't figured for England and I want that to change. And because I haven't had the games, I have just seen a Lions tour slip by," said the international record points scorer.

Wilkinson admitted he had yet to complete a medical with Toulon - he is due out in France next week - but said both he and the club were confident everything would be fine. "I wouldn't be signing for next season if I wasn't going to be playing," he explained.

The England fly-half - who was on a fact-finding mission with the Denver Broncos last week - said he felt he was "letting people down" at Newcastle due to his lack of playing time and hoped that his switch to Toulon would enable him to "escape all the negative energy" associated with his recent injury frustrations.

And he confirmed that a move to France had always been part of his grand plan. "There is a lot of obvious appeal to a new culture, a new language and a better climate. I had always wanted to play in France at the end of my career, I have simply done so earlier than expected.

"I went to see Toulon a few weeks ago and was really excited by what I saw. Some people might ask why I am going to a club that have just escaped relegation. Why not go to a club that are challenging for honours? Of course I want to win trophies, but it does not appeal to me to slot into a set-up that is already winning everything. I'd rather contribute by helping to build something. Joining a team of winners was not the priority, far more so was helping to create a team of winners," he said.

Wilkinson added that he was relishing the challenge ahead and was inspired by the passion of both club president Mourad Boudjellal and new head coach Philippe Saint-Andre.

His first game for Toulon, if he is fit, could be the friendly against Racing-Metro 92 on July 30th - which was confirmed last night. They will also play further friendlies against Australian side the Brumbies (in August) as well as away matches at Brive and Castres.

Boudjellal is clearly hoping that Toulon will no push on to become a major force in Top 14.

"I'm looking for new sensations," he said. "Even if I would not say we will be champions of France in three years because it was unfortunate for those who have said that this season," he added in reference to Montpellier.

Boudjellal also confirmed that the planned expansion of the club's Stade Felix Mayol had been put on hold after it was deemed too expensive. An audit to investigate upgrading from 13,000 to 22,000 fans estimated the cost at 73m euros.

Wilkinson's erstwhile club-mate Tom May will also be joining Toulon, together with the likes of Cardiff's Jamie Robinson, Bristol's Joe El Abd, Saracens' Kris Chesney, Munster's Timmy Ryan and the Sale trio of Rory Lamont, Juan Martin Lobbe and Sebastien Bruno. Clermont Auvergne duo Pierre Mignoni and Laurent Emmanuelli have also been signed, along with veteran Argentine fly-half Felipe Contepomi from Leinster - who will still join despite a serious knee injury which has ruled him out for at least six months.

Other signings confirmed by the club on Monday evening include that of South African lock Dewald Meyer Senekal (from the Lions), French under-19 international Clement Marienval (from Lyon OU), Tongan-born Japanese international full-back Christian Loamanu (from Toshiba brave) - who tested positive for marijuana at the beginning of the year - and Tonga Lea'aetoa (from London Irish).

Jonny Wilkinson Timeline:
1997 - Represents England U21s in wins against New Zealand, France and Wales
1998 - Named as a sub for England against Scotland (aged 18 and 301 days), makes debut
           as a sub against Ireland (on April 4)
         - Part of England's 'Tour to Hell' side which got thrashed by Australia and New Zealand
1999 - Makes first start for England (aged 19) against Scotland. Kicks four penalties in 24-21
           win
         - Scores 32 points for England against Italy
         - Plays in 1999 World Cup, but is dropped for quarter-final against South Africa
2000 - Scores all 15 points as England beat France
         - Scores all 27 points as England beat South Africa 27-22 in Bloemfontein
2001 - Scores 21 points as England beat South Africa at home
         - Breaks Six Nations record with 35 points in 80-23 win over Italy
         - Scores all 21 points as England beat Australia at Twickenham
2002 - Named Zurich International Player of the year 2002
         - Scores 30 points in Six Nations win against Wales
         - Suffers ankle ligament damage playing for Newcastle in May
         - Stars as England beat New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in November
           internationals
         - awarded MBE in Queen's New Year Honours List
2003 - Finishes as top-scorer as England win the Six Nations Grand Slam
         - Kicks 15 points as England beat All Blacks in New Zealand for first time, and 10 as they
           also win in Australia
         - Kicks 20 points in England's 25-6 group win over South Africa in World Cup
         - Kicks all 24 points as England beat France 24-7 in World Cup semi-final
         - Scores last-ditch drop-goal to win World Cup in extra-time by beating Australia 20-17.
           He also kicked four penalties.
         - Newcastle Falcons announce Wilkinson has fractured shoulder, and will be out for
           two-three weeks
         - Wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year
         - Suffers recurrence of shoulder injury during Newcastle game against Northampton
         - Awarded OBE in New Year Honours List
2004 - Shoulder operation rules Wilkinson out of entire Six Nations championship. Also
           misses England tour to New Zealand and Australia
         - Makes comeback in August for Newcastle and succeeds Lawrence Dallaglio as England
           captain, but ruled out of autumn Tests with haematoma in upper right arm
         - Comes back for Newcastle in December's Heineken Cup clash against Edinburgh
2005 - Suffers knee ligament damage in Heineken Cup match against Perpignan in January
         - Suffers medial ligament damage on Newcastle comeback against Harlequins in March
         - Called up as a ;ate replacement for British Lions in New Zealand in May
         - Suffers shoulder injury in second Test
         - Misses early season with Newcastle following appendix operation in September
         - Undergoes surgery for groin injuries (November)
2006 - Suffers torn adductor muscle (January) but comes back to finish season with
           Newcastle
         - Sustains knee ligament injury during Newcastle's home game with Worcester in
           September, ruling him out of England's autumn Tests
         - Makes Newcastle comeback in November against Bristol but suffers kidney damage
           and is forced to rest for a month
2007 - Makes triumphant international return with 27 points in England's 42-20 win against
           Scotland in February
         - Becomes leading scorer in Six Nations history with penalty against Italy
         - Captains England in second Test of summer tour in South Africa
         - Suffers twisted ankle which rules him out of England's opening World Cup game
           against USA in September
         - Kicks 24 points in 44-22 pool win over Samoa, and 16 points in pool win against
           Tonga, to seal quarter-final berth
         - Kicks all 12 points as England beat Australia in quarter-final, becoming leading points-
           scorer in World Cup history
         - Kicks nine points as England beat France 14-9 to reach second successive final
         - Kicks all of England's points in the final as they lose 15-6 to South Africa
2008 - Becomes first England player to pass 1,000 in 23-19 win against Italy (Feb)
         - Overtakes Hugo Porto's world record of 28 drop-goals with successful three-pointer in
           24-13 away win in France
         - Becomes leading points scorer in international rugby during 15-9 defeat by Scotland
         - Dropped by England for Ireland match - in preference for Danny Cipriani
         - Shoulder surgery rules him out of England's summer tour to New Zealand
         - Suffers dislocated kneecap while playing for Newcastle against Gloucester (Sept), and
           hasn't played again since
2009 - Signs to join Toulon in France on a two-year deal