Former England captain Sam Tomkins prepares for first Test series as team manager
Former Wigan Warriors full-back Sam Tomkins is looking forward to experiencing his first game as part of Shaun Wane’s backroom staff, as England take on Samoa in the home Test series.
The 35-year-old returned to the field towards the tail end of the Super League campaign for Catalan Dragons, after initially hanging up the boots following the 2023 Grand Final against his former club.
Tomkins combined punditry and playing throughout the last year, and now embarks on a new management role within the England set-up.
The two-time Man of Steel states that this is another incredible opportunity in a game he loves, saying: “I’m really looking forward to it. I love the sport, I’m passionate about England and I have been very lucky to put on the jersey a number of times.
“This is another opportunity for me and if I can help out in any way over the next two weeks, then I’m more than happy to do so.”
The two Test matches at Wigan and Leeds will see Tomkins work alongside England international boss Wane, who coached Tomkins during some of the best moments of his career.
He won three Grand Finals under Wane in 2010, 2013 and 2018, as well as two Challenge Cups and two League Leaders’ Shields.
In a rare moment where the student becomes the apprentice, Tomkins says that there is no stark difference between how Wane treated him as a player to how he is treated as a member of his coaching team.
“Shaun’s very straight speaking, there’s no grey areas with him,” Tomkins said on Wane’s approaches.
“He demands the highest in terms of standards and in terms of professionalism and whether that's staff or players, everything’s the same. So, it’s not been much of a change between me and Shaun.
“He started coaching me when I was 15-years-old, over 20 years ago, so being part of the staff is no different.”
Tomkins won 29 caps for England on the international stage, including as captain at the 2022 World Cup on home soil, so comes into the coaching position with plenty of knowledge on what it takes to pull on the jersey.
Wane’s side features a host of exciting young talent, including Betfred Super League Young Player of the Year Junior Nsemba, who will be in contention to earn his first England caps across the series.
Tomkins knows how different the international stage is to that of club rugby, and he wants to use his experience to help the side adapt to Test action off the back of a long season.
He added: “International rugby is a different environment. You’re mixing with different people, players you have been smashing into for 27 weeks and now all of a sudden you’re best mates with them.
“There’s challenges and I just want to put myself in camp and make sure I’m there to help if anyone needs it along the way. Certainly for the younger players in the group - I’ll be the one to lean on if they need any advice.”