Sam Tomkins announces shock retirement from rugby league

Sam Tomkins is set to retire at the end of the 2023 Super League season.

The England captain, who arrived at the French club in 2019, will hang up his boots after 16 seasons as a Rugby League professional

But the Catalans Dragons player will stay at the club, joining the Dragons Staff after the 2023 season in a generic role that will develop over the next few years. He will be involved in the recruitment process and will help the Dragons in a marketing and ambassador capacity, by attending certain meetings and functions for the Club. Occasionally he will help the Coaching Staff with position specific training and skills. He will also have a vital role in educating the Dragons young professionals and ensuring the strong club culture evolves.

Having progressed through the Wigan Youth Development System, Sam Tomkins won three Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cup Finals and two League Leaders Trophies with the Cherry and Whites. Named Super League Young Player of the Year award twice in 2009 and 2010, he then featured in five successive Super League Dream Team’s and was the 2012 Man of Steel. Tomkins scored 158 tries in 186 games for Wigan.

He left his hometown club to join the NRL and the New Zealand Warriors in 2014, scoring 14 tries in 37 NRL games before returning to Wigan after two seasons Down Under.

He joined the Dragons in 2019. Named in the 2021 Dream Team, he has also been named Man of Steel and won the League Leaders Shield with the club. He scored 28 tries and 382 points in 83 games with the Dragons since his arrival at the club.

Captain of the England team, he represented his country on 29 occasions, scoring 18 tries.

Wigan Warriors have unsurprisingly paid tribute to their former star including his former captain Sean O’Loughlin:

“A massive congratulations on the career you’ve had. Unbelievable career and unbelievably successful, it was fantastic being a part of that with you, playing alongside you and winning trophies with you. Got some great memories on and off the pitch, celebrations. You’ve left your mark on this club and others you’ve played at.

“I think the years you’ve had around those trophy eras, the influence you had on the team, the club and the game in general with how you played it, how you changed it, what you did as a player. You should be very proud and I wish you all the very best in the future. I’ll join you for a pint in the next few months and celebrate the good times.”

Ex-teammate Tommy Leualui said: “Congratulations on an unbelievable career. It’s been an absolute pleasure to play alongside you. I’ve known you for a long time and become really good friends away from the game and I can’t speak highly enough of what you bring to a team. I’ve had some of my best memories playing alongside you. Some of the things you’ve been able to achieve, here, internationally and in the NRL is unbelievable.

“A young skinny kid coming into the game, coming out and scoring 5 tries on your debut – I think then everyone knew we had something special on our hands. All the things you’ve done I admire, but the one thing I can say from playing alongside you is your competitive spirit, you’re just winner. We always knew when we had you in our team, you’d pull of something special for us.”

Meanwhile current Wigan Captain Liam Farrell said:
“I want to congratulate you on an outstanding career. In my opinion you’ll go down as one of the best players that Super League has ever had. You’ve cemented your legacy in the league and I’m proud to say we’ve grown up from being kids, playing in the same teams and we’ve had some great memories. Not only on the field winning Grand Finals and Challenge Cups, but off the field as well. We’ve made some outstanding memories, you’ve had a great career.”

Chief Executive, Kris Radlinski added: “Sam will go down as one of the most iconic players of the Super League era, his highlights package will go down with the very best to have played in the competition. His talent is there for all to see but his fellow players and coaches will all comment about the competitor and team mate that he has been.

“When his name is on the team sheet, you know you have a chance. Over the years I have become very close to Sam the person and always enjoy being in his company. I have no doubt that he will rise to the challenge of the next part of his life with the same mindset that made part one so successful. He will be a loss to the playing field but hopefully a real asset to the running of the sport moving forward.”

“Sam wil go down as one of the most iconic players of the Super League era. His highlights package will go down with the very best to have played in the competition. His talent is there for all to see but his fellow players and coaches will all comment about the competitor and team mate that he has been. When his name is on the team sheet, you know you have a chance.

“Over the years I have become very close to Sam the person and always enjoy being in his company. I have no doubt that he will rise to the challenge of the next part of his life with the same mindset that made part 1 so successful. He will be a loss to the playing field but hopefully a real asset to the running of the sport moving forward.”