Career
Early career
Born in Wokingham, Wilkinson played for National League 3 North side Darlington Mowden Park during the 2001/02 season, making 20 appearances and scoring 3 tries. He made his professional debut against Leeds Carnegie, playing as centre, but unusually, for that position, wearing the 15 shirt. At the end of the season, he had made six appearances in the league, and five in the European Challenge Cup.
He would feature far less the following season, making just four league appearances, and two Challenge Cup appearances, although he did score his first professional tries against Valladolid Royal Automobile Club in a 71–10 victory for the Falcons.
2005/06 would see him make just one appearance, a brief appearance from the substitute"s bench in a 27–18 defeat against Saracens. Post-retirement
In 2006, Wilkinson retired from professional rugby, aged 28, to become the academy fitness and conditioning coach at Newcastle, at the same time Rob Bowen joined the club"s academy.
He remained in the post for three years, before departing the club in 2009.