Tomkins Baa Baa's appearance a dip into the water or a sign of what's to come?
Thursday 24 November 2011
.jpg "Tomkins Baa Baa's appearance a dip into the water or a sign of what's to come?")
Tomkins Baa Baa's appearance a dip into the water or a sign of what's to come?
It was announced on Monday that rugby league's Sam Tomkins will play for the Barbarians against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.
The news of this one-off switch of codes comes just a month after the full back, 22, pledged his future to Wigan Warriors, vowing not to speak to rugby union clubs for at least three years. This, days after it was announced that elder brother Joel was to join rugby union club Saracens.
Sam, a member of the England Four Nations team defeated 30-8 by Australia last Saturday, is undoubtedly one the most talented players to be produced by English rugby league in recent years, making him one of the most in demand players in all of rugby.
On the involvement of the younger Tomkins in the Baa Baa's squad this weekend commercial director Mike Burton said: 'We are delighted that Sam, with the support of the coaches and management at Wigan, has accepted this opportunity to play in such a high-profile union match.
'The Barbarians club has a tradition of thinking outside the circle when inviting players with league backgrounds, and usually to everyone's benefit.'
A similar scenario occurred last summer when England faced the Barbarians at HQ, the inclusion of Willie Mason after his exile from rugby league side Hull Kingston Rovers prompting a move to French Top 14 outfit Toulon. Mason is yet to make an appearance in the south of France.
There is cause for confusion and massive cause for worry for any Wigan Warriors fan in the fact that even though Tomkins is gagged, so to speak, from discussing his future with clubs he is allowed to appear in what is a showpiece event at Twickenham.
Ian Lenagan, the Warriors' chairman and owner said: 'The Wigan club and Sam are very pleased to accept the Barbarians invitation.
'Sam is an exceptional player in either code of rugby and his selection shows the growing mutual respect between the codes of rugby league and rugby union in England.
'It's a great opportunity for Sam to experience the Twickenham atmosphere and showcase his talents on another major stage.'
Lenagan's last statement perhaps suggests that Tomkins is in fact available and can be drawn away from the DW Stadium. Surely allowing him to 'showcase his talents on another major stage' is the last thing that the Warriors hierarchy want.
The cynic in me can't help but think that this is an attempt by Lenagan to lure prospective rugby clubs into a deal for the 22-year-old full back; after all it could be rather a money spinner.
In order to gain the services of Joel, two years Sam's senior, Saracens had to compensate Wigan with £250,000 in order to release the second-row forward from the four years remaining on his contract.
Joel follows in the footsteps of current Saracens first-team coach Andy Farrell who left Warriors in 2005 for the Watford based club. Tomkins move however differs from that of Farrell in the fact that it has gained no involvement from the RFU.
Tomkin senior's move to the 15-man code was hinted at in September when both he and Sam joined former Warrior Chris Ashton in signing with sports management company James Grant, which possesses a large portfolio of rugby union clients.
Chris Ashton left Wigan in 2007 to become a union player, signing for Northampton Saints and scoring 39 tries in 25 appearances in the club's promotion winning season, his first, from National League One. Since then Ashton has achieved 18 caps with England scoring 15 tries.
Kyle Eastmond was the most recent code-switcher, trading Merseyside for Somerset, moving from St Helens to Bath, the 21-year old is however yet to make an appearance at the Recreation ground.
Joel's move from Wigan to Saracens has also prompted the creation of a partnership between the two clubs with the aim of playing a cross-code game in future and sharing coaching resources and players.
With this announcement and Sam Tomkins taking to the hallowed Twickenham pitch in a rugby union jersey I can't help but think that we may see Tomkins junior playing the 15-man game sooner rather than later, certainly within the three years he is said to be fully committed to Wigan.
If it is not with Saracens, who appear content to fritter away any amount of money in the knowledge that it will be underwritten by their South African backers then Tomkins appearance for the Barbarians on Saturday may draw attention from further afield, particularly France.
With a number of clubs playing in the Top 14 possessing what appears to be a bottomless pit of money along with a much greater salary cap at their disposal, if one truly exists, there is no reason why the Toulon's or the Racing's of this world would not pay whatever Mr Lenagan at Wigan would require to release Tomkins from his new five year deal.
Realistically Wigan could ask for anything in excess of half a million pounds for Tomkins well in knowledge that a club would be willing to pay this for one of the most exciting players in all of world rugby. This sort of money would set the Wigan Warriors franchise up for an extended period of time, not necessarily allowing them to make big name signings as a result of the salary cap but certainly develop the club in whatever way they desire.
With this in mind I can't help but think that Wigan Warriors' decision to allow Tomkins to play for the Baa Baa's this weekend is as much a business move as a way of harvesting league-union relations, as suggested by Lenagan. This is Wigan and Tomkins' opportunity to get him in the 'shop window' if you will, and should he be a success the phone will surely ring in James Grant management's office in Chiswick with a whole host of union clubs bartering for position in the race to acquire the full back's services.
Obviously we will not be able to draw any conclusions over Tomkins' prospective future in rugby union until he has played on Saturday but all signs point to the likelihood that in the near future both Tomkins brothers will be playing union and Super League will have lost its most prized asset.
.jpg "Tomkins Baa Baa's appearance a dip into the water or a sign of what's to come?")
