Catalans Dragons' Sam Tomkins signs up for wine-making future once playing over

21 September 2023 , 06:52

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Catalans' Sam Tomkins and with his son Dylan looking out over the dilapidated vineyard he's invested in. (Image: PA)

Catalans star Sam Tomkins is all set for retirement - especially after bagging himself a vineyard.

The ex-England captain bows out at the end of the season, hoping to sign off an incredible career by helping Les Dracs to their first Super League title. But the dazzling full-back, who moved to France four years ago, is sure to remain busy after his unusual grape-growing investment in Perpignan. Tomkins, 34, explained: “I stumbled across it. I’ve a friend here who’s a builder by trade and we’re always looking for properties or land to invest in.

“Some land became available but there were no pictures so we went to have a look. It was very overgrown and full of weeds but it looked like there were vines in there. Chatting to the lady selling it, she said an old guy used it as a vineyard a few years ago but stopped maintaining it before unfortunately passing away.

“Me and my mate have now planned to reinstate it back to a functioning vineyard!. I don’t know much about them - but I’ve drank lots of wine so I’m hoping it stands me in good stead! The region we live in there’s a lot of people with plenty of wine knowledge. A lot of the partners of the club are wine-makers. I've got a property I rent out over here where my tenant has worked on vineyards for more than 30 years so I've a lot of people to lean on. I’m doing it as a bit of a hobby really and I’ll be asking everyone. But it does seem like it was meant to be: this coming up as it has just as I’m retiring. It’ll give me something to get stuck into.”

The ex-Wigan ace - who will name it ‘Le 29’ after his squad number - first visited a vineyard when he moved to Auckland to play for New Zealand Warriors in 2014. Always a wine lover, he naturally took more interest when joining Catalans who he hopes can be toasted as League Leaders’ Shield winners tomorrow night. They are in a three-way battle with first-place Wigan and third-placed Saints for top spot heading into a dramatic final round.

England captain Sam Tomkins talks Wane decision and his international future

Wigan will secure it if they win at Leigh while Catalans are at Salford and champions Saints host Hull with so much still to play for ahead of the play-offs. Tomkins beamed: “What an amazing end to the season. Every club from one to seven needs a win to benefit themselves the week after.

Catalans' Sam Tomkins (Anna Gowthorpe/REX/Shutterstock)

“My dad never misses a game but this week he’s watching it at home because he wants to see all the live results coming in! I’d like to be a spectator this year and watch this Friday night unfold. It’ll be amazing for the sport. I’m sure there’ll be some upsets somewhere - ideally Saints and Wigan lose and we win.”

• St Helens have confirmed former England forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 37, will retire at the end of the season and become a fireman.

David Craven