Tomkins keen for Barbarians repeat

Wigan star Sam Tomkins says that he would love to be part of the Barbarians set up once again but insists he isn’t looking to switch codes any time soon.

Sam, whos older brother Joel left Wigan for Saracens at the end of last season, appeared in a friendly match for Barbarians against England last November.

Tomkins scored their only try in the 60-11 defeat and despite being new to the code, he caught the eye of many union clubs around the globe. However prior to his union outing, he signed a new and improved five year deal at the Warriors which includes a three year period where he cannot be approached by the other code.

Speaking at Wigan Warriors pre-season media day, he said: “It was just an opportunity I felt I couldn’t miss,” 

“It was the chance to play a different sport at a stadium like Twickenham. Not many people get the chance to play there. I didn’t want to look back later in my career and think ‘why didn’t I just do that’. There was no reason not to.”

“It was by no means trying to see what union’s like. It wasn’t a job interview or anything like that, like people said. It was purely a case of getting an opportunity to do something different and I’d certainly play again if I got offered the chance.”

“I’d bite their hand off to play again. It was a great week building up to it, just a completely different environment. Obviously we got battered and no one enjoys that but I got a taste for it and next time, if I got to play a different position, I could get more involved.”

Barbarians face England again on 27th May but it is unlikely that Tomkins will be released by the Warriors who face local rivals Saints that weekend at Manchester Magic.