Sam Tomkins on living in lockdown in France

Police will have the power to restrict people’s movements away from their home.

It will be a harsh new reality for most, yet Sam Tomkins has spent the last week living under similar – arguably even stricter – conditions.

France enforced their own lockdown last week, forcing Catalans Dragons players to scrap training altogether.

Ventures out to the chemist, shop or even to walk the dog must only be done after completing a form on a government website.

And with police and military patrolling streets, and fines increased since the tough measures were introduced, it is something Tomkins – one of five ex-Warriors at Catalans with brother Joel, Lewis Tierney, Micky McIlorum and Tom Davies – is taking seriously.

“It’s full on,” he said. “We live in a really quiet, quaint village and there are even police here on the street corners, so I can only imagine what the cities and big towns are like.

“We were told it’s for 15 days but apparently that’s the maximum number of days they can say at a time, so it may be extended, it may be for longer.

“If you want to leave the house you have to fill in a form, and it’s got to be for medicine, food, isolated exercise or walking the dog a short distance.”

It was less than two weeks ago when Wigan beat Salford in front of an AJ Bell Stadium crowd.

A lot has happened since, and their fixture with Catalans last Sunday was the first victim of Super League’s postponement.

“At first everything over here started like England, with advice to avoid social gatherings and so on,” said married dad-of-two Tomkins, who made more than 200 appearance in two spells with his hometown club.

“Then last Monday we were told everywhere would be closing so on Tuesday morning everyone was rushing around. Over here, on Sundays, everywhere is closed and it’s actually quite nice – but for 15 days in a row, it’s pretty strange.

“We’re quite lucky with the weather, my two lads are out in the garden during the day.

“And my wife sent me to the shop to buy enough felt-tip pens for half of France, so they’ve plenty of colouring to do!

“My brother Joel is only 10 minutes away... he filled in a medicine form so he could bring some Calpol round.”

Before the lockdown, Tomkins borrowed an exercise bike and some dumbbells from the Dragons’ gym and has been training on his own each day; ticking over for when the campaign may resume.

“We get a programme sent to us every morning,” he said.

“Our conditioner videos himself and shows us what we have to do, and it’s like prison workout, using whatever you can around the home and in the garden.”

Catalans were already three games behind Wigan on the schedule, owing to postponements for various reasons. It means they will have a lot of catching up to do when the campaign finally resumes.

The French club, of course, have the added complication of factoring in travel restrictions.

“I know football has

already extended its postponement until the end of April, I can’t see us playing before then but hopefully it’s soon,” added 31-year-old Tomkins.

“All the lads just want to get back playing and we know some clubs will be struggling.

“Rugby league is pretty fragile financially, it depends on the games and the attendances for income.”

Bigger picture, of course, the former Man of Steel realises the importance of why they are living in lockdown.

“The main thing is people buy into it, the quicker we can get on top of it and get back to normal,” he added.