JONNY Wilkinson will only complete his proposed move to French club Toulon if he passes a stringent set of medical tests next week.

The Newcastle Falcons fly-half is understood to have agreed a three-year deal at Toulon worth between 800,000-1m Euros-a-year, depending on how many matches he plays.

But the deal is dependent upon the injury-plagued England international passing a detailed medical in France next week.

If he is not given a clean bill of health, Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal will pull the plug on his transfer agreement with the Falcons.

Despite previous comments suggesting he was unconcerned about Wilkinson's dreadful recent injury record, Boudjellal is believed to harbour private concerns about the 29-year-old's lack of appearances in the last two seasons.

Wilkinson has suffered a succession of serious injury blows since helping England win the World Cup in 2003, and has not played a competitive match for Falcons since dislocating his knee against Gloucester last September.

He remains one of European rugby's biggest draws, however, and Toulon officials are aware of the financial incentives behind securing his signature.

Neverthless, Boudjellal is adamant he must be signed for rugby reasons alone, and has demanded that next week's medical is more stringent than would normally be the case.

Wilkinson is one of a number of leading names set to leave Kingston Park this summer, with the likes of Geoff Parling, Phil Dowson, Tom May and David Wilson having already completed transfers away from the Falcons.

The mass exodus is causing concern amongst Falcons fans, but chairman Dave Thompson has pleaded for patience as his recruitment drive continues.

England Sevens winger Tom Biggs is close to completing a move to Kingston Park, and Thompson remains confident that Newcastle will be in strong shape at the start of next season.

"This is the longest signing-on period ever, and it will take a bit more time yet," said the Falcons chief. "I would ask the fans to be patient and to trust in the ability of the management team to identify and recruit the right players. They have proved they know what they are doing.

"They have proved it with Tane (Tu'ipulotu), they have proved it with Danny Williams and Adam Balding, and they will prove it again.

"Look at Harlequins. Three years ago, no one had heard of Nick Easter or David Strettle, but now look at them, seasoned England internationals who were staking claims for the Lions tour. There's nothing wrong with bringing in players who are not so known to the wider world."

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