Sam Tomkins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sam Tomkins
Relatives	Joel Tomkins (brother) Logan Tomkins (brother)
Rugby league career
Personal information
Born	(1989-03-23) 23 March 1989 (age 36) Milton Keynes, England
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	13 st 1 lb (83 kg)
Playing information
Rugby league
Position	Fullback, Stand-off
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2008–13 Wigan Warriors 152 144 35 2 648 2014–15 New Zealand Warriors 37 14 0 0 56 2016–18 Wigan Warriors 61 24 101 8 306 2019–23 Catalans Dragons 104 33 139 6 416 2024– Catalans Dragons 10 7 12 0 52 Total 364 222 287 16 1478 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2009–22 England 29 18 1 0 74
Rugby union
Position	Wing
Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2011 Barbarians F.C. 1 1 0 0 5
As of 14 October 2023

Sam Tomkins (born 23 March 1989) is a famous English rugby league player. He played as a fullback or stand-off. Sam is also a rugby league analyst for Sky Sports. He recently came out of retirement to play for Catalans Dragons in the Super League for the rest of the 2024 season.

Sam started his career at Wigan Warriors and played there for many years. He also spent two seasons playing in Australia for New Zealand Warriors. Sam is a two-time winner of the prestigious Man of Steel award, which he won in 2012 and 2021.

He has won three Super League Grand Finals with the Wigan Warriors (in 2010, 2013, and 2018). He also won two Challenge Cup finals in 2011 and 2013. In September 2024, he was announced as the new Team Manager for the England national rugby league team.

Sam's Early Life

Sam Tomkins was born in Milton Keynes, England, on March 23, 1989. His family moved to Milton Keynes because of his dad's job. Later, they moved to Chorley in the North West of England.

Sam first started playing rugby league when he was seven years old. His dad introduced him and his older brother, Joel, to a local club called Chorley Panthers ARLFC.

Joining Wigan St. Patrick's

When Sam was nine, he and Joel joined Wigan St. Patrick's, a club that helps young players get ready for the professional Wigan Warriors team. To help their rugby careers, the family moved closer to Wigan. Sam played for Wigan St. Patrick's until he was a teenager.

The chairman of the club, Bill Atherton, said that everyone could see Sam was "special" even then. When he was twelve, Sam joined the Wigan Warriors scholarship program. At sixteen, he got a part-time contract with the Wigan Warriors Youth Development academy.

By 2007, Sam was playing regularly for Wigan's academy teams. He even played for the England Academy under-18s against France. At the end of that year, Wigan gave Sam a full-time contract, allowing him to train with the main team.

Club Career Highlights

Playing for Wigan Warriors

Starting His Professional Journey

When a player left Wigan, the club looked for a new player, and Sam Tomkins was given a chance. He signed a contract to stay with Wigan until at least the end of the 2010 season. The coach, Brian Noble, believed Sam would make a big impact in the Super League.

Sam's first game against a top team was in a friendly match in 2008. He then made his official first-team debut on May 12, 2008, in a Challenge Cup match against Whitehaven. Sam made history by scoring five tries in his very first game! Wigan won that match by a huge score of 106–8.

Even after this amazing start, Sam mostly played in the reserves for the rest of 2008. He continued to score lots of tries, including another five-try game against Harlequins RL. Wigan's chairman, Ian Lenagan, said he thought Sam would become a "world-class" player. Sam was named Reserve Team Player of the Year. In 2009, he also won the Albert Goldthorpe Rookie of the Year Medal.

2009 Season: Making His Mark

Sam played well in pre-season games for Wigan in 2009. He got the number 25 jersey for the season. Wigan had a tough start, losing their first three matches. Sam joined the team for their fourth game, making his league debut against Harlequins. He helped set up a try that tied the game.

Sam then started in the team and scored his first league tries against Salford. He continued to play well, scoring multiple tries in different games. Wigan's chairman believed Sam would be a long-term star for the club.

Sam Tomkins playing against St Helens in 2009

At the end of 2009, Sam was named in the Super League Dream Team, which is like an all-star team. He was also voted Super League Young Player of the Year by sports journalists. Wigan also named him their Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year. Sam played 27 games that season, scoring 15 tries. He then signed a five-year contract with the club.

2010 Season: Grand Final Glory

After a new coach, Michael Maguire, joined Wigan, Sam was given the number 6 jersey, confirming his important role. He played in every single match of Wigan's 2010 season. He scored three tries in cup matches against Sheffield Eagles and Widnes.

Wigan finished top of the league table, winning the League Leader's Shield. Sam played in all four play-off games, leading to Wigan's Grand Final victory over St. Helens. This was Wigan's first league title since 1998, and Sam's first major trophy!

Tomkins playing for Wigan in 2010

During the season, Sam also started playing as a fullback, a new position for him. He scored the first try in his first game as a fullback and made a try-saving tackle. He stayed in this position for the Grand Final.

Sam had a great season, scoring 21 tries and four goals in 34 games. He scored a try in the Grand Final win. Both Sam and his brother Joel were named in the 2010 Super League Dream Team, which was the first time two brothers had been in the team together. Sam also won Young Player of the Year again and the Albert Goldthorpe Medal for being the 'best and fairest' player.

2011 Season: Becoming a Fullback Star

Wigan made Sam's move to fullback permanent in 2011, giving him the number 1 jersey. There was talk that Sam might move to another league or sport, but Wigan offered him a new five-year contract to keep him until 2015.

Sam Tomkins playing in 2011, running at Daryl Millard of the Catalans Dragons

Sam played 34 games in 2011. He scored his first try of the season against Bradford. He had a fantastic run from April to June, scoring 13 tries in seven games, including multiple games with two or three tries. He scored his second hat-trick of the season against Huddersfield.

Sam played in the 2011 Challenge Cup final, which Wigan won, giving him his first Challenge Cup trophy. He scored 32 tries, five goals, and one drop goal that season. After the season, he signed a new contract with Wigan, reportedly becoming the highest-paid player in the Super League.

Tomkins in 2012

2012 and 2013 Seasons

In 2012, Sam continued his amazing form, scoring 36 tries in 30 games for Wigan.

In 2013, it was announced that Sam would be leaving Wigan to join the New Zealand Warriors in Australia. Before he left, he helped Wigan win two more major trophies. He played in the 2013 Challenge Cup Final, where Wigan beat Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium. He also played in the 2013 Super League Grand Final, where Wigan defeated the Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford.

Time with New Zealand Warriors

Sam's first games for the New Zealand Warriors were in a special tournament called the Auckland Nines in 2014. His first official game was in the first round of the NRL season. He scored his first try for the Warriors in his second game.

Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins during a game against the Sydney Roosters in 2014

He had a standout game against the Parramatta Eels, scoring two tries and setting up another. This game really showed everyone in the NRL how talented he was. Sam's great playing meant that another player, Kevin Locke, left the club.

Tomkins representing the New Zealand Warriors in 2015

The Warriors announced that Sam would leave the club at the end of 2015. This was due to injuries and him feeling homesick for England.

Returning to Wigan Warriors

2016 and 2017 Seasons

Sam returned to Wigan in 2016 after two seasons in Australia. He signed a four-year contract. He had surgery on his knee in November 2015, which meant he missed the start of the 2016 season. He finally played his first game back for Wigan on May 13, 2016. He played 16 games, scoring 7 tries, before needing more knee surgery.

In 2017, Sam didn't play for Wigan until the Challenge Cup quarter-final. He scored a drop goal that won the game for Wigan against the Warrington Wolves. He quickly got back into form, helping his team with assists and scoring tries against teams like Catalans Dragons, Leeds Rhinos, and Huddersfield Giants.

He played in the 2017 Challenge Cup Final, but Wigan lost to Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium. He scored his fifth and final try of the season against Castleford Tigers.

2018 Season: Another Grand Final Win

After struggling with knee injuries, Sam was ready to play from the very first game of the 2018 Super League season. He showed he was back to his best with a fantastic 65-meter run to score a try against the Widnes Vikings. He also provided many assists for his teammates.

Sam scored a 45-meter drop goal to win a close game against Leeds Rhinos. He continued to score tries and goals throughout the season. It was announced that he would be joining the Catalans Dragons in 2019.

Sam played a key role in helping Wigan Warriors finish second in the Super League table. He played in the 2018 Super League Grand Final where Wigan won against the Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford.

Playing for Catalans Dragons

Sam played for Catalans Dragons in the 2020 Super League season. In October 2021, Sam was awarded the Man of Steel award for his great performances with Catalans that season. On October 9, 2021, Sam played for Catalans in the 2021 Super League Grand Final, but they lost to St. Helens.

In April 2022, Sam fractured his fibula (a bone in his lower leg) during a Challenge Cup game, which meant he was out for at least four weeks. Later that season, he kicked a drop goal to win a game for Catalans against Huddersfield Giants by a score of 13-12. He played 21 games for Catalans in 2022.

In March 2023, Sam announced he would retire at the end of the season because of ongoing knee issues. However, he delayed his retirement to play in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

In the 2023 semi-final against St Helens, Sam scored the winning try with less than a minute left, sending Catalans to the Grand Final. On October 14, 2023, Sam played in Catalans' 2023 Super League Grand Final loss against Wigan Warriors, which was his final game as a player before his first retirement.

Sam's Return to Playing

In July 2024, Sam Tomkins surprised everyone by announcing he was coming out of retirement! He returned to Catalans Dragons to help them push for the play-offs and a spot in the Grand Final. He felt confident about his knee again. Sam made his second debut for the club on July 27, 2024, scoring a try in a 24–16 win over Hull F.C..

However, in his third game back against Huddersfield Giants, Sam suffered a hamstring injury. On October 4, 2024, Sam signed an extension to play for the 2025 season. Two months into the 2025 season, he announced that this year would "definitely" be his last, confirming his second retirement at the end of the 2025 season. At the time of this announcement, he had scored five tries in five appearances for the season.

International Career

Playing for England

Sam Tomkins made his international debut for the England team on October 18, 2009, against Wales. He scored three tries in a 48–12 victory! Even though he had played fewer than 30 games for Wigan, he was included in the new England squad for the 2009 Four Nations.

He played against Australia and New Zealand in the Four Nations. England reached the final but lost to Australia. Sam's partnership with Kyle Eastmond was praised.

In 2010, Sam scored four tries in a friendly match against France, which equaled a record for an England player in one game. He played in all three of England's matches at the 2010 Four Nations. He also started playing as a fullback for England.

Sam continued to play for England in 2011. He scored four tries against Wales in the 2011 Four Nations, again equaling the record for most tries in an England game. England reached the Four Nations final again but lost to Australia.

Tomkins warming up for England in 2022

After the 2014 Four Nations, Sam didn't play for England for a few years due to injuries. He was called back to the England squad in 2018. In June 2021, he was named England's new captain. He played as fullback in most of England's matches in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup before they lost in the semi-final.

Playing for the Barbarians

In November 2011, Sam Tomkins also played a game of rugby union for the Barbarians, an invitational team. He played as a right wing and scored a try against the Australian Wallabies. Even though the Barbarians lost, it was Sam's first professional rugby union match. He said he was glad he had the chance to play, but he was still a professional rugby league player.

Life After Playing

Broadcasting Career

After his first retirement as a player in 2023, Sam Tomkins joined the Sky Sports team as an analyst. He helps commentate on matches for the 2024 season. He continued this work even after he returned to playing for Catalans Dragons in 2024.

Coaching Role

In September 2024, Sam Tomkins was appointed as the Team Manager for the England national rugby league team. This is a role where he works behind the scenes to help the team.

Career Statistics

Club Career

International Test Caps

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	18 October 2009	Brewery Field, Bridgend, Wales	Wales	12–48	Win	Test match
2	31 October 2009	DW Stadium, Wigan, England	Australia	16–26	Loss	2009 Four Nations
3	7 November 2009	Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, England	New Zealand	20–12	Win	2009 Four Nations
4	14 November 2009	Elland Road, Leeds, England	Australia	16–46	Loss	2009 Four Nations
5	12 June 2010	Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, England	France	60–6	Win	Test match
6	23 October 2010	Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand	New Zealand	24–10	Loss	2010 Four Nations
7	31 October 2010	AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia	Australia	34–14	Loss	2010 Four Nations
8	6 November 2010	Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand	Papua New Guinea	36–10	Win	2010 Four Nations
9	21 October 2011	Parc des Sports, Avignon, France	France	18–32	Win	Test match
10	29 October 2011	Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, England	Wales	42–4	Win	2011 Four Nations
11	5 November 2011	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Australia	20–36	Loss	2011 Four Nations
12	12 November 2011	KC Stadium, Hull, England	New Zealand	28–6	Win	2011 Four Nations
13	19 November 2011	Elland Road, Leeds, England	Australia	8–30	Loss	2011 Four Nations
14	3 November 2012	MS3 Craven Park, Hull, England	France	44–6	Win	2012 Autumn International Series
15	11 November 2012	Salford City Stadium, Salford, England	France	48–4	Win	2012 Autumn International Series
16	26 October 2013	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Australia	20–28[Usurped!]	Loss	2013 Rugby League World Cup
17	2 November 2013	John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield, England	Ireland	42–0[Usurped!]	Win	2013 Rugby League World Cup
18	9 November 2013	KC Stadium, Hull, England	Fiji	34–12[Usurped!]	Win	2013 Rugby League World Cup
19	16 November 2013	DW Stadium, Wigan, England	France	34–6[Usurped!]	Win	2013 Rugby League World Cup
20	23 November 2013	Wembley Stadium, London, England	New Zealand	18–20[Usurped!]	Loss	2013 Rugby League World Cup
21	25 October 2014	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia	Samoa	32–26	Win	2014 Four Nations
22	2 November 2014	AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia	Australia	16–12	Loss	2014 Four Nations
23	8 November 2014	Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand	New Zealand	16–14	Loss	2014 Four Nations

International Tries

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	18 October 2009	Brewery Field, Bridgend, Wales	Wales	12–48	Win	Test match
2
3
4	12 June 2010	Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, England	France	60–6	Win	Test match
5
6
7
8	29 October 2011	Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, England	Wales	42–4	Win	2011 Four Nations
9
10
11
12	12 November 2011	KC Stadium, Hull, England	New Zealand	28–6	Win	2011 Four Nations
13	3 November 2012	MS3 Craven Park, Hull, England	France	44–6	Win	2012 Autumn International Series
14
15	11 November 2012	Salford City Stadium, Salford, England	France	48–4	Win	2012 Autumn International Series
16
17	25 October 2014	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia	Samoa	32–26	Win	2014 Four Nations

Honours and Awards

With Wigan Warriors

• Super League Grand Final
  • Winners (3): 2010, 2013, 2018
• League Leaders' Shield
  • Winners (2): 2010, 2012
• Challenge Cup
  • Winners (2): 2011, 2013
• World Club Challenge
  • Winners (1): 2017

With Catalans Dragons

• League Leaders' Shield
  • Winners (1): 2021

With England

• Rugby League World Cup
  • Runner-up (1): 2017

Individual Awards

• Man of Steel:
  • Winners (2): 2012, 2021
• Super League Dream Team
  • Winners (8): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2023
• Super League Player of the Year:
  • Winners (1): 2011
• Super League Young Player of the Year:
  • Winners (2): 2009, 2010
• RLWBA Player of the Year:
  • Winners (3): 2011, 2012, 2021
• Albert Goldthorpe Medal:
  • Winners (1): 2010
• Rookie of the Year:
  • Winners (1): 2009
• RLIF Rookie of the Year
  • Winners (1): 2010
• Wigan Warriors Player of the Year
  • Winners (2): 2009, 2011
• Wigan Warriors Young Player of the Year
  • Winners (1): 2009
• Wigan Warriors Reserve Team Player of the Year
  • Winners (1): 2008