Joel Tomkins

Joel Tomkins
Tomkins with the Wigan Warriors
Personal information
Full name Joel Andrew Tomkins[1]
Born (1987-03-21) 21 March 1987[2]
Warrington, Cheshire, England
Height 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Weight 103 kg (16 st 3 lb)[2]
Playing information
Rugby league
Position Second-row, Centre, Loose forward, Prop

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2005–11 Wigan Warriors 149 48 0 0 192
2007(loan) → Widnes Vikings 8 2 0 0 8
2014–18 Wigan Warriors 88 16 0 0 64
2018– Hull Kingston Rovers 9 2 0 0 8
Total 254 68 0 0 272
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010–14 England 6 2 0 0 8
Rugby union
Position Centre

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011–14 Saracens 33 4 0 0 20
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013 England Saxons 2 0 0 0 0
2013 England 3 0 0 0 0
As of 11 October 2018

Joel Andrew Tomkins (born 21 March 1987) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League. He has previously played for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League. He primarily plays in the second-row.[3][4]

Background

Tomkins was born in Warrington, Cheshire, England.

But he was raised in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

Personal life

He is the eldest brother of Sam Tomkins and Logan Tomkins.

Playing career

Early rugby league career

He is a former St. John Fisher player, were he played in the Wigan Warriors' Academy at under-18's level in 2003.

He was selected for the 2004 Academy Origin Series. Joel was one of the most highly-rated talents in the Wigan Warriors' Academy.

Playing positions

He primarily plays in the second-row, but he can also play as a centre, loose forward and prop forward.

Wigan Warriors (2005-11)

In 2005, he was called-up into the first-team at the age of 18 and he made his senior début for the Wigan Warriors against the Widnes Vikings in March 2005. During 2005, Joel made another 12 appearances and scoring a total of 3 tries in the process.

The talented youngster was given his chance at first-team level under coach Ian Millward, who had become Head Coach of the Wigan Warriors in 2005.

Joel started the first match of the 2006 season at loose forward, in a match against the Catalans Dragons which Wigan lost, 38-30.

Joel was demoted to the bench for the second match of the season against the Leeds Rhinos. After 17-minutes he was brought from off the bench and scored a try with his first touch of the ball to give Wigan a 4-0 lead. Wigan went onto lose the match, 16-24.

In February 2006, Joel agreed a contract extension with the Wigan Warriors which would keep him at the club until 2008.

Joel started from the bench for the next two matches against the Huddersfield Giants and Salford City Reds, but he was dropped to the Academy just shortly after.

He later returned to the squad when he was named on the bench for the Challenge Cup fourth round match, against the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on 2 April 2006.

He also played in the next couple of Super League matches against the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and St. Helens, before again being dropped to the Academy.

Team Head Coach Ian Millward was sacked in April 2006, because of the poor results from the Wigan Warriors side. He was replaced by Brian Noble on 20 April 2006.

Wigan were bottom of the Super League and Noble decided to play a more experienced squad, which meant that Joel would not make another appearance during 2006.

Tomkins playing for the Wigan Warriors during his first-spell at the club.

Joel started the 2007 season in the Wigan Warriors' Senior Academy, where he was in good-form scoring 5 tries in one match against Hull Kingston Rovers' Academy. But despite this he was not called-up into the first-team squad until 18 May 2007, for the Super League match against Hull Kingston Rovers.

Joel suffered an ankle injury during the match and was out for 2-weeks, before returning to the Wigan Warriors' Senior Academy. He then later returned to the Wigan Warriors first-team for the match against the Catalans Dragons on 15 June 2007.

He became a regular first-team player for Wigan during the 2008 season, he was a substitute in Wigan's first match of the season against Harlequins RL.

He was not included in the Wigan squad for the next two games against the Castleford Tigers and Hull Kingston Rovers, but he returned to the squad as a substitute for the match against the Bradford Bulls in which he scored his first try in the 2008 season.

Despite a good performance against Bradford, he was not included in the squad for the next two Super League games, his place in the squad was taken by Australian second-row, Phil Bailey.

His next appearance was in the Good Friday derby match against St. Helens as a substitute.

He kept his place in the squad for 13 consecutive games and he scored two more tries, one against the Warrington Wolves in Super League round 14 and the other against the Catalans Dragons in round 17.

Joel continued to be a presence in the Warriors' 2009 Super League season.

Joel was successful in the 2010 Super League season, lifting the League Leaders' Shield with the Wigan Warriors.

Joel was part of the winning Wigan Warriors' side that defeated St. Helens 22-10, in the 2010 Super League Grand Final.

He was then part of the Wigan Warriors' side that lost the 2011 World Club Challenge to the St. George Illawarra Dragons.

Tomkins made five consecutive appearances at the start of the 2011 Super League season, including the opening fixture against St. Helens, before being sent-off in a game against Hull F.C..

He received a two-match ban for the incident with his brother Sam, also banned for one-game.[8][9][10][11]

Tomkins returned and scored his first try of the season in round 8, against the Leeds Rhinos.[12]

His next tries came against Hull Kingston Rovers and the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in rounds 10 and 12.[13][14]

Tomkins played at centre for Wigan in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final against the Leeds Rhinos. Scoring a try after his brother Sam, sent him away down the wing to score.

Tomkins fended Leeds Rhinos scrum-half Danny McGuire off and he side-stepped past Brent Webb and Carl Ablett to score under the post's, after an eighty-metre sprint.

Wigan Warriors won the game 28–18, giving Tomkins his first Challenge Cup 'Winners' Medal.'

Widnes Vikings (2007)

On 27 July 2007, the 20-year-old second-row forward joined the Widnes Vikings. Initially on a month's long loan-deal, with a view to extending the deal to the end of the season.

Widnes Vikings Head Coach Steve McCormack said, “It's a really good signing for the Club. Joel has tremendous ability and experience.”

Wigan Warriors (return to rugby league 2014-18)

On 18 June 2014, the Wigan Warriors announced that they had re-signed Tomkins with immediate effect.[15]

Joel was victorious with the Wigan outfit in the 2016 Super League Grand Final.

He also claimed victory in the 2017 World Club Challenge, against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks by a score of 22-6.

On 4 June 2018, Tomkins was banned from playing for four-weeks and he was incidentally fined £10,000. After footage posted on Social Media went viral, of him abusing bar staff in a local Wigan public house whilst in the company of his brother Sam. Who was also fined £5,000, for his more limited-role in the incident.

In light of his current situation with the whole incident, Tomkins himself tendered his resignation to Wigan Warriors' Rugby General Manager Kris Radlinski, which was accepted by all parties involved.

Tomkins' final game for the Wigan Warriors came in a 23-0 Challenge Cup Quarter Final defeat on 2 June 2018, at the hands of the Warrington Wolves.[16]

Hull Kingston Rovers (2018 - present)

Following his resignation from the Wigan Warriors, due to the club said to be, “considering his future” in the wake of his 4-week suspension and £10,000 fine. After footage posted on Social Media went viral, of him abusing bar staff in a local Wigan public house.

It was revealed on 11 June 2018, that Tomkins had signed an 18-month contract to play for Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven Park until the end of the 2019 season.

Hull KR managed to obtain his services despite interest from other rival Super League clubs.

On 17 June 2018, Tomkins made his Hull Kingston Rovers' Super League début in a 24-24 draw, against the Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle.

On 29 June 2018, Joel bagged his first try for Hull KR on his home début at Craven Parkagainst the Huddersfield Giants, in a 37-10 Super League victory.

Representative career (rugby league 2010-14)

He is a former England International representative second-row forward.

Tomkins was selected to play for England against France in a one-off test in 2010.

Amongst featuring for England on several more occasions during the 2010-2014 rugby league seasons.[7][17]

Saracens (2011-14)

At the end of the 2011 Super League season, Tomkins switched rugby codes after agreeing a £400,000 contract, (£120,000 a year) at the Saracens, after a £250,000 release-fee was agreed with the Wigan Warriors.

From 2011-2014, he played rugby union at outside centre for the Saracens.

Representative career (rugby union 2013)

In 2013, Tomkins was called-up for the first of his two caps for the second-string England Saxons rugby union team.[18]

Starting at outside centre in both tests, Tomkins enjoyed initial success against the Ireland Wolfhounds in a closely contested match, ending in a 14-10 victory for the England Saxons.[19]

However a week later, Tomkins experienced his first taste of defeat in a union white shirt at the hands of a strong Scotland A team, who ran-out winners 9-13, in a rain-swept match set in Newcastle.[20]

He won his début England cap in a 20-13 victory over Australia, in the 2013 Autumn International Series.[21]

Following Tomkins' good-form for the Saracens in the 2013-2014 season and the vacancy of the number 13 jersey, left by the injured incumbent Manu Tuilagi. Tomkins was selected at outside centre for England's 1st XV to face Australia, in the 2 November 2013 QBE International Test.[22]

A match England’s 1st XV won 20-13, to regain the Cook Cup. With Tomkins débuting in a new centre partnership with Gloucester centre, Billy Twelvetrees.[23]

Honours

Club (Wigan Warriors 2005-11 & 2014-18)

References

  1. ↑ Joel Tomkins at ESPNscrum
  2. 1 2 3 "Joel Tomkins Wigan Warriors". www.superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. ↑ Saracens Senior Squad Profile Archived 22 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ RFU Website Archived 3 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. 1 2 "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Scott, Ged (12 February 2011). "St Helens 16-16 Wigan". BBC. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Andy (27 February 2011). "Wigan Warriors make brave attempt but Dragons are still worlds apart". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  10. ↑ "Wigan Warriors 14-12 Hull FC". BBC. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  11. ↑ Higham, Paul (15 March 2011). "Wigan lose Tomkins brothers". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  12. ↑ "Leeds Rhinos 22-22 Wigan Warriors". BBC. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  13. ↑ "Hull KR 16-28 Wigan". BBC. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  14. ↑ "Wakefield 0 Wigan 26: Woeful Wildcats tamed by Tomkins as champions roll on". Daily Mail. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  15. ↑ Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ [@WiganWarriorsRL] (18 June 2014). "Wigan Warriors can confirm the re-signing of JOEL TOMKINS with immediate effect" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ "Tomkins set to quit Wigan and make Union switch to Saracens". talkSPORT. 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  17. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (2010-06-13). "Widdop passes his first Test at a canter". The Independent. UK: Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
  18. ↑ 'Player Profile', RFU Website "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  19. ↑ 'Ireland Wolfhounds 10-14 England Saxons', BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21147198
  20. ↑ 'England Saxons 9-13 Scotland A', BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21300404
  21. ↑ "'England 20-13 Australia". BBC. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  22. ↑ 'England vs Australia: Joel Tomkins and Lee Dickson to start', BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24757546
  23. ↑ "'England V Australia - As it happened'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2013.

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