Wilkinson held on to his spot in the starting team over the following seasons, playing in 15 games in the 2008–09 Celtic League and six of the side's games as they reached the quarter-finals of the 2008–09 European Challenge Cup. In the 2009–10 season, he played in 16 Celtic League games, and featured regularly for the province as they made the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. Wilkinson played in the semi-final as Connacht were narrowly beaten in the Sporstground by Toulon. In October 2010 Wilkinson earned his 100th cap for Connacht. With the number of teams having been expanded to 12, he played in 20 games in the 2010–11 Celtic League under new coach Eric Elwood. Wilkinson also started five games in the Challenge Cup that season.