Sam Tomkins’ England career over?
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Andrew Fosker/Shutterstock 13619315bq Sam Tomkins Captain of England England v Samoa, Rugby League World Cup 2021, Semi Final, Rugby League, Emirates Stadium, London, UK - 12 Nov 2022 England v Samoa, Rugby League World Cup 2021, Semi Final, Rugby League, Emirates Stadium, London, UK - 12 Nov 2022 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTXHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROMxBULxUAExKSAxONLY Copyright: xAndrewxFosker/Shutterstockx 13619315bq
Recently England captain Sam Tomkins confirmed he would be retiring at the end of the current Super League season and many assumed that meant that England’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final defeat to Samoa was his last.
However, it seemed that Tomkins could have one last hoorah with England with Shaun Wane telling BBC Sport that he wants players like Tomkins and Huddersfield Giants star Chris Hill to help the next crop of stars develop into international stars.
“There will be new faces and there will be lots of them,” Wane confirmed last month.
“But I’ve got a lot of respect for those players and what they did in the World Cup, and I don’t want to start totally afresh and bring just young players into a new camp.
“I want our existing players like Chris Hill – who’s the other side of 30 – and Sam Tomkins having an influence on informing those players about how to train, their actions and the detail of what’s important to me.
“That’s going to be a big help to me going forward.”
So it seemed Tomkins could be included in Shaun Wane’s next England squad despite his impending retirement.
England take on France in April before an expected series against Tonga in the autumn.
However, Tomkins has been left out of Shaun Wane’s 40-man England squad announced today meaning his international career is likely over.
Meanwhile, with Ryan Hall, Kallum Watkins and Marc Sneyd also left out, it could be the end for them as well.