10 March 2023 , 19:40
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England rugby league star Sam Tomkins has announced he will be retiring at the end of the season.
Tomkins, currently plying his trade with Catalans Dragons, will call time on his playing career due to a troublesome left knee problem. The former England star and three-time Super League champion confirmed his decision while appearing on a Sky Sports broadcast Friday evening.
A statement from the player read: "It’s been an honour to play for three great clubs, firstly playing for my hometown club of Wigan Warriors where I was given the opportunity and guidance to work through the reserve grades before becoming a regular Super League player, secondly the NZ warriors for a great experience in the NRL where I grew as a player and person alike and lastly the Dragons where I have been able to play my part as a leader in a club going from strength to strength over the last four years.
"A sportsman’s career is full of ups and downs, from winning trophies to the inevitable injuries. I am lucky that the high points of my career have far outweighed any low points. Although my time on the field is coming to an end, I will remain with the club in a new role."
As well as helping Wigan Warriors dominate the domestic scene across two spells with the club, Tomkins also spent two seasons with the New Zealand Warriors in 2014 and 2015. He returned to Wigan after his time in the National Rugby League before moving to Perpignan in 2019, wrapping up a phenomenal career with the Dragons.
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Sam Tomkins will call time on his playing career at the end of this season (Richard Walker/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)His time in Perpignan will not end as a player, however, after Tomkins confirmed he'll remain with the Dragons to help with recruitment, marketing and ambassadorial duties. Upon confirming his exit from the sport as a player, the veteran said he 'loved every minute of living out his childhood dream'.
"The Dragons remain an ambitious club. Having cemented their place as a leading Super League team there is a genuine desire to develop the club both on and off the field," added the rugby league legend. "I am delighted that I will be a part of that process and hope that I can contribute positively towards a club that has become a huge part of my life and career."
The 33-year-old became the first rugby league player to score five tries in a first-grade debut when he put five past Whitehaven in his maiden outing for Wigan in 2008. He scored 15 times in 27 appearances for his boyhood club the following campaign, earning Wigan's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.
Tomkins was twice named the Super League's Man of Steel, first winning the prize in 2012 before claiming it again with Catalans at the end of the 2021 season. Dragons head coach Steve McNamara hailed Tomkins' "incredible career" and thanked the departing icon for his "huge contribution to the progression and development."