Sam Tomkins has announced his retirement from rugby league following the termination of his Catalans Dragons contract by mutual consent.
The 36-year-old England international said in 2023 that he was retiring from the sport after helping the French club to their first Grand Final, which they lost to his former club Wigan Warriors.
That first ‘retirement’ was due to persistent knee problems which had dogged him, but an improvement in his physical fitness led to him returning to Catalans in July 2024.
He signed a one-year extension at the end of last season, but two months into the current campaign announced he would quit for good at its conclusion, only to now bring that forward.
Tomkins has developed an alternative career as a Sky Sports pundit, with his brother Joel, the Catalans coach, suggesting he would not be joining his coaching team when he ends his playing career.
Tomkins had a glittering career, winning three Super League titles, two League Leaders’ Shields, two Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge with Wigan before helping the Dragons land the League Leaders’ Shield in 2021 and reach two Grand Finals.
He also scored 18 tries in 29 appearances for England and was named Man of Steel on two occasions.
His nine seasons with Wigan were punctuated by two years with New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, where he was a big success, scoring 14 tries in 37 appearances before succumbing to injury and homesickness and returning to Wigan.
In all, he scored 167 tries and 1,218 points in 290 Super League appearances, and is the third-highest points scorer in the Dragons’ history.
Tomkins said: “Today I am announcing I have retired… for good this time!
“Thanks to [Dragons chairman] Bernard [Guasch] for this opportunity and all the players, staff and supporters for what has been an amazing seven years full of great memories.”
