Tomkins wants England return in 2018

Sam Tomkins is eyeing a return to the England fold in 2018 with the aim of adding another 20 international caps over the remainder of his career.

The 28-year-old, who has scored 17 tries in 23 games for his country, was left out of Wayne Bennett’s 24-man squad for this year’s World Cup despite ending the 2017 Super League season in good form.

Tomkins, who made his England debut in 2009, has not featured in the international setup since 2014 and has struggled with a series of injuries over the last few years.

However, the Wigan full-back is now determined to get back in the team ahead of next autumn’s three-match Test Series against the Kiwis on home soil.

“My ambition is always the same,” Tomkins told the BBC. “I want to play for England. I am proud to be English and proud to pull on that jersey and represent our brilliant country.

“I would love to play again. I have been very lucky to play 20-odd games with the England jersey on, but I want 20 more.”

After a disastrous World Cup campaign that saw New Zealand lose to both Tonga and Fiji, Tomkins believes they will be determined to bounce back when they face England next year.

“The Kiwis have got 12 months to build and will probably make a lot of changes,” he said. “They will want to set a marker down and prove to everyone they are still the second-best team in the world.

“They have had a poor World Cup by their standards, but they will be using this as a perfect time to bounce back.

“But we are already there – we are above New Zealand now and we need to make sure we stay there.”