Tomkins to play for Barbarians?

[exile in Tiger country]

Sam probably relishes the challenge, however the chance of some fat Rah rah forward falling on him and doing seriou injury, not too mention the chance of Sam burning out midway through next season because of lack of R&R in the now non existent off season is a concern.

[Panchitta Marra]

What about Sam?

Indeed, what about Sam.

There has been a lot of controversy this year over the England booing fiasco but after his performances in the 4 nations and due to most fans of all clubs realising the idiocy of the Leeds fans everything seemed back on a even keel.

Things then got even better when his new deal was announced. If you went over to RLFANS the day his new contract was signed there were plenty of fans form other clubs saying how great it was Sam was staying in league and the amendments to the salary cap to allow this were absolutely fine.

Well I think he will find that goodwill just evaporated.

If he wanted to make himself a target once again how better to do it but to sign a deal that is going to keep him in league and then go and swan off to play union?

Can you imagine the kudos he would have got had he politely declined the invitation? Instead he has just handed the boo-boys another clip full of ammunition.

Talk about shooting himself in the foot.

And the idea he can go and have a run around in the park at Twickers as some reward for a tough year has got to the best excuse yet!

Do you not think that this "Invitation" from the RFU for Sam to play for the Barbarians was not already part of his contract to ensure he did not communicate with Union or the NRL for the next 3 years Dave.

[jobo]

It's a free country.

I definitely don't want him ever going to the rah rah's, or the NRL but Sam increasing his media profile is surely something that's not only up to him but as far as his marketability is concerned, is a very shrewd move.

As for his popularity, I reckon true fans of RL from all clubs, the majority, will be supportive whilst the idiots will do what they've always done.

[DaveO]

Do you not think that this "Invitation" from the RFU for Sam to play for the Barbarians was not already part of his contract to ensure he did not communicate with Union or the NRL for the next 3 years Dave.

No. The Ba Baas is a separate RU club with its traditions as an invitation only side and the idea it would give him an invitation so that would help Wigan keep him in league is a pretty fanciful suggestion IMO.

[Deadly]

Idiotic...What can be gained from this? Sam has a blinder and every rah rah club will be sniffing around despite the price tag....Sam has a shocker (not unlikely after the long season he has had and now turning out for a make shift rugby yawnian outfit who have never played together before) and every ru pundit will be in heaven - spouting how difficult and skill based their game is....The chances of Sam getting injured are very high, despite the bore factor of the game these arent ballet dancers prancing around, there is nothing the old farts would like better than to see one of our so called stars look like an ameteur! Weak Mr L. :eh:

[slimshady]

Let him play then he might realise how shit the game really is!

[DaveO]

It seems to me that Lenegan sees this as an attempt to show off rugby league's brightest talent. The way you dismiss the publicity angle is a bit odd though. Those in rugby union will barely know who Lenegan is so why their opinions matter I don't know.

What do you mean by that?

Also if they think it's fawning over union then good for them, it's irrelevant.
What is relevant is that if Sam Tomkins plays well in that game anyone watching will know that he's a rugby league player and a Wigan player and that he will be for the next 3 years.

We knew that already.

Given that some are saying he's the great hope for England in 2015 that's a lot of interest in him and therefore interest in how he's going at Wigan.

Well we had just better risk injury and let them check him out then! After all its clear we are only being allowed to keep him by the good grace of RU.

I don't understand the massive negatives. He's still going to be a Wigan player, I seriously doubt he's going to pick up a serious injury, he's no more a risk of burnout playing one extra game of union than he was playing for England in the 4 Nations. What's going to change by letting him play this game? The only negatives are league fans own negative opinions of rugby union because they are almost certainly going to have him playing their code in 3 years time.

If you can't see the negatives then I think you are being very naive. In simple terms apart from the obvious risk of injury him playing, this game promotes Rugby Union not Rugby League. The idea RL gets any kudos from him being picked is just wishful thinking. The fact he may be playing the game in three years time has got to be the greatest irrelevance of the lot.

There's little that can be done about that though, we've got to try everything to get as much publicity out of Sam Tomkins the Wigan rugby league player before he becomes Sam Tomkins England rugby international.

And we won't do that by having him play Rugby Union. The fact this has gone down like a lead balloon with the majority of fans has completely undermined all the positives that came with his so called cast iron three year deal being announced. You must surely see that?

People are openly saying now that it isn't worth the paper its written on so all these negatives from the clubs (and sports) own fans are all the proof you need that publicity at any price does not always work. It has really been badly misjudged IMO.

[Deadly]

As a spectator sport...yep its ultimate boredom...however from a players point of view who could blame him for switching to a game that pays more for only having to put half a shift in plus you get to travel the world...The writing is on the cards.

[bourbon_rat]

Think this proves that the people running RL up there have lost the plot :conf:
RFL REVEL IN TOMKINS CALL-UP
McNAMARA ASSURED OVER 2012 GAMES

[Welski]

It doesn't matter what the rugby league fans think Dave. They were never going to be happy with anything when union is involved.

Unfortunately Sam Tomkins isn't going to get any publicity simply by playing rugby league because no one gives a crap about the game except for a hardcore minority of sports fans in this country.

The only way to get people to take real interest in this talented rugby player is by him playing rugby union. We obviously don't want him to switch codes but he probably will do. For now, we want people to know that he's a rugby league player and he plays for Wigan, which they will if they watch the game. I don't see the commentators and presenters being able to ignore the fact that he's a rugby league player or that he currently played for Wigan.

Spot on Cherry. It's about time RL fans stopped feeling persecuted by RU and got on with trying to support efforts to promote the game. The inclusion of Sam in this fixture has already elevated interest in Wigan, RL and Sam T. He is even mentioned on the back pages of some London papers this morning. Bookies are already quoting odds on him scoring etc. Normally a Barbarian v Aussie fixture at this part of the RU season would pass by largely unnoticed. Great PR for the BaaBaas and their charities (objections to them benefiting I find a little OTT) and a great advert for us.

I've got staunch RU mates back in NZ who still follow Wigan on the back of taking them to the Bath cross code games. Some now admit they prefer RL to RU given the way each game has evolved.