By Pranav Soneji

The Hotshots experience has definitely made me consider going into coaching and working with kids

Given the circumstances of the past two years, Jonny Wilkinson has had plenty of time to consider his future.

Since kicking the drop goal that won England the Rugby World Cup in 2003, Wilkinson has suffered a series of injuries as long as one of his trademark left-foot punts.

If it wasn't his neck or the infamous "stingers" - electrical jolts down his back and arms after hard tackles - it was his appendix or knee keeping him away from the Newcastle and England number 10 jersey.

But inspiration struck during the filming of Jonny's Hotshots, a 10-part BBC series in which 10 young rugby fans learn the skills of the game from England's most celebrated international.

"The programme was not something I was trying to set out to do from the very beginning," Wilkinson told BBC Sport.

"I just thought while I had the opportunity I would give it a go. If I'm going to get involved in something like this then I'm going to give it everything."

Sport Academy: Rugby union skills

And the 26-year-old fly-half believes the programme has opened up a new world of possibilities for him when his playing days have finished.

"I had done coaching with Newcastle in schools before, especially kicking skills," said Wilkinson.

"But the programme made me realise how satisfying and rewarding coaching is, especially when I got such positive feedback from the kids involved.

JONNY'S HOTSHOTS Starts Monday 13 February on BBC ONE at 4:15pm The series will run until Friday 24 February Jonny's Hotshots website

"Some of them had previously found certain skills difficult. To then suddenly see them actually do these skills, saying how much it had helped, was just fantastic.

"The kids I had were so good. They would give everything, they were an absolute pleasure to work with.

"It's a great feeling to give them the chance to really push their ambitions, to help them play better.

"The Hotshots experience has definitely made me consider going into coaching, working with kids. I think Steve Black (Newcastle Falcons fitness coach) and Dave Aldred (kicking coach), who were also helping out, would also say the same."

As well as coaching, Wilkinson also found solace during his darker days through his guitar, which has become something of an obsession over the past three years.

And, just like with his metronomic kicking, the self-confessed Oasis fanatic admits to putting in the hours of practice while he has been away from the rugby pitch.

"To be honest, I never thought it would change my life as much as it has - and for the better," said Wilkinson, whose elder brother and house-mate Mark is also a keen guitar enthusiast, as well as a drummer.

"Three years ago I didn't even know how to hold the damn thing. I'm self taught so I've been taking my time learning all the basics.

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"There are some days when I pick the guitar up and I'm so bad I think 'have I actually learned anything?'

"And then there are other days when I'm playing better than I ever have done."

Which sums up Wilkinson's perfectionist philosophy succinctly.

Whether he is learning Noel Gallagher's guitar licks on "Live Forever" or slotting tight place kicks from the half-way line, Wilkinson will always be the same.

"Even if I've played 100 games in a row there will still be things I will be disappointed with, even if we've won every game," he said.

"There are always things I want to do better or would have done differently. That will never change."