LONDON, 30 November 2003 — England World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson showed off the Webb Ellis Trophy to 10,000 fans at Newcastle yesterday and then watched as his club slumped to a 23-20 defeat against Wasps.

Wilkinson and his Wasps’ England teammate Lawrence Dallaglio showed off the World Cup at Kingston Park before the Premiership clash and it was the visitors who were left celebrating as Peter Richards scored a winning try two minutes from time. “It feels fantastic to be home after eight long weeks,” Wilkinson told the crowd before the game. “It makes you feel excited. I’m desperate to get playing again and it’s a wonderful feeling to be back.”

Dallaglio also said he was overawed by the welcome. “We are just massively overwhelmed and humbled by everything. The support is fantastic,” he said.

Wasps welcomed back England World Cup squad members Stuart Abbott, Simon Shaw and Joe Worsley, as well as Scotland’s Kenny Logan to the team and Tom Voyce gave them a flying start with a try after three minutes.

Scottish winger Logan made it 10-0 after a flowing move while Mark Van Gisbergen found his range with a penalty to increase his side’s lead.

Newcastle kept in touch when Epi Taione fed Tom May who in turn released full-back Ben Gollings to score before Wilkinson’s understudy at fly-half Dave Walder, who had missed an earlier penalty, succeeded with the conversion. Van Gisbergen then kicked a penalty to give Wasps a 16-7 half-time lead.

May then scored his seventh try of the season with Walder adding the extra points to keep Newcastle in the match. Walder was on target again with a penalty to put the home side in front for the first time.

But Wasps snatched victory when replacement scrum-half Richards crossed for a late try and, despite another Walder penalty, Newcastle were unable to find a winning move. Leicester welcomed back their World Cup players but they were unable to prevent the Tigers going down 13-12 to league leaders Bath at Welford Road.

Leicester included all seven of their England World Cup winners in the squad of 22 with Lewis Moody, Ben Kay, Julian White and Martin Corry all starting, while England skipper Martin Johnson, Neil Back and Dorian West came on from the bench in the second half. Bath started with Mike Catt while fellow England men Mike Tindall and Danny Grewcock were on the bench.