Sam Tomkins to start for the Baa baas

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15810900.stm


Why isn't anyone talking about this?

To me its just wrong, and is a kick in the teeth to all aspiring young International wannabe wingers who play Union.

Stick to League Son, MOVE! tackle MOVE! tackle MOVE! tackle MOVE! ZZZZZZ ETC.....

Well at least he tackles...

Hooray, it's the thrice annual have a go at rugby league thread - or at least it will turn into it.

I think it's fine. It'll be interesting to see how he does, plus he may be brilliant and cross codes to become an international star. It'll draw more people to the game and probably make a few league fans watch a union match they wouldn't otherwise watch, maybe getting us new fans in the process.

Lets see how he goes hersh....you never know...he may make us wish he'd swap codes.....

I've voted no.

Its not "have a go at league". There's nothing wrong with Rugby League but its a separate sport and unless he is thinking about a move to the 15 man game its just silly.

There are dozens of wingers who I'd have prefered to see playing and as Hersh says its a kick in the teeth of the wingers who train hard in Rugby Union and have their place denied like this.

The Baabaas is an invitational event in which players from all over the world come together to play rugby. It's all about entertainment and playing free flowing rugby. If he can come and play free flowing rugby then he should be allowed to play. In fact it would be nice to see a RL player given a go, hopefully one of the NFL lot could be tempted over for a game next year.

Let's celebrate the game, raise money for charity and raise awareness of the game.

I voted Yes. Why not?

Dozens of wingers like who red stag?

Personally I wouldn't want to risk my club's wingers when there are some very important matches coming up.

I do agree Stag....especially after he signed this supposed form to say he wouldnt talk to any union sides.....not that contracts are worth diddly these days.

Im curious to see how he goes anyway....this supposed "superstar"...

He'll definately need to do some defending this game so thats gonna be interesting....

formerly known as Sam wrote:The Baabaas is an invitational event in which players from all over the world come together to play rugby. It's all about entertainment and playing free flowing rugby. If he can come and play free flowing rugby then he should be allowed to play. In fact it would be nice to see a RL player given a go, hopefully one of the NFL lot could be tempted over for a game next year.

Let's celebrate the game, raise money for charity and raise awareness of the game.

Could you imagine Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders at 12....wow....

Curious to see how they would cope with the different fitness requirements...

Beshocked,

Who are the dozens of wingers. Well every club in the world has two wingers so thats several thousand to choose from - Im sure there are a good dozen or so to choose from.

Why not someone young exciting winger Fionn Carr, Tim Visser, Tomas Benvenuti, Gerhard van den Heever, George North, Gonzalo Camacho would be a few that I'd like to see.

I think its a shame that clubs won't risk their players for the Barbarians team - I was very sorry to see Scarlets refuse to let Stephen Jones play. We might as well not have a Baa Baas team in that case.

Don't get me wrong I don't mind League, its the Refs shouting MOVE all the bloody time that does my head in.

My own feelings are that League is a completely different sport. I haven't a clue who Sam Tomkins is, we don't get Rugby League in Ireland. I don't care either. Its enough for me that he doesn't play my sport. Other people do and they should get first crack for these type of honours.

We'll have David Beckham playing 10 for the Lions is an Adidas promotion next.

yet its ok for the Irish/Gaelic footballers to play Aussie rules players?

I think its a great idea and maybe it will light a spark in Tomkins to come to Union down the line.

He's a phenomenal talent and has the potential to be every bit as succesful as Jason Robinson, perhaps be even better.

I voted yes.

He's a cracking player. It's good to see some different styles on show and it will be interesting to see how he gets on.

In any case the Baa Baa's is an outdated concept that doesn't have much of a place in these fixture congested times so I don't know why people are getting so precious.

Strange that some people have never heard of Sam Tomkins either. Is Ireland like N Korea in terms of outside news coming in?

Not to forget that one of England's best player in recent times came from league, he played wing as well as full back

SafeAsMilk wrote:Strange that some people have never heard of Sam Tomkins either. Is Ireland like N Korea in terms of outside news coming in?

We just don't really have rugby league over here. I'd imagine you've heard of very few Gaelic footballers?

I watched a fair bit of league when I was younger and still have a passing interest otherwise I'd have never heard of him either.

aucklandlaurie wrote: yet its ok for the Irish/Gaelic footballers to play Aussie rules players?

How is that in any way the same. They play an hybrid sport which has elements of both games.

As for pointing at people like Jason Robinson, Chris Ashton etc - yes they came from Rugby League to be top Rugby Union players.

However, this fella is not doing that. He has signed a contract to stay playing Rugby League for the next 3 years at least. He is not interested in moving to Union. Its a shame he is playing.

We'll have David Beckham playing 10 for the Lions is an Adidas promotion next..

That's not the same though. The Lions is a serious test team, the Baabaas has always been about pure entertainment and if the organisers feel he will provide entertainment then why not? As long as it is one player from a none Union club I don't see the problem, it's just a mini spectacle within what should be a great game.

Could you imagine Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders at 12....wow....

Curious to see how they would cope with the different fitness requirements....

I was thinking of one of the special team punt returners playing in the back three. Every kick ran back with vengence, would be fun to watch.

I would think their fitness would be pretty damn good as those guys train hard and have HUGE off field fitness teams including specialists in everything remotely related to health, diet, sports science, physio etc. I'd be more interested to see how they coped with the no pads tackling and breakdown play.

Maybe bring over a end of season retiree, isn't Randy Moss only continuing to the end of the season?

Good on ya rodders. Nowt wrong with a bit of league lad. I guess Tomkins gets a fair bit of press oop North so I assume everybody knows him.

Yeah, to be fair, I don't know many Gaelic footballers!

Stag Jason Robinson played Union for Bath temporarily a few years prior to moving permenantly as did a few others.

Robinson didn't move until he was 26 so there is still time for Tompkins.

Wigan also played in the middlesex 7's in 1997(?). This isn't really a new thing.

If this was a high profile RL player who was being rewarded with a move to Union with this honour I wouldn't mind.

However he'll take this chance from a more derserving player and they go back to Superleague for another 3 years.

red stag
I get the feeling that you regard Rugby Leaue players and their supporters as some type of vermin.
No other sport close comes closer to Rugby Union than rugby League, and I can foresee that some time like within 20 years that the two codes will combine to everybodys advantage.

I hope not!

aucklandlaurie wrote: red stag
I get the feeling that you regard Rugby Leaue players and their supporters as some type of vermin. No other sport close comes closer to Rugby Union than rugby League, and I can foresee that some time like within 20 years that the two codes will combine to everybodys advantage.

No I regard it as simply another sport. Two of my former team mates play for St Helens and I took part in the celebrations of Thomond Park hosting its first RL game a few weeks ago. I actually quite like watching RL and I dont know anything about their fans.

Thats an apalling comment to make Laurie. I simply treat it as a separate game the same as I treat soccer or basketball or American football. However in Ireland our exposure to certain sports like cricket and RL is minimal so I don't know the players.

I've explained my reasons. He isn't a Rugby Union player. He is denying an honour to a Rugby Union player. Either join Rugby Union or else keep playing Rugby League.

SafeAsMilk wrote:Good on ya rodders. Nowt wrong with a bit of league lad. I guess Tomkins gets a fair bit of press oop North so I assume everybody knows him.

Yeah, to be fair, I don't know many Gaelic footballers!

My GF is from Wakefield too so that doesn't help.....

I'm sure a lot of rugby fans over here will know who he is from watching league but certainly league wouldn't get press coverage over here so he wouldn't be widely known.

I've watched him a few times and have been very impressed. He reminds me a bit of Christian Cullen. Very elusive and seems to always be in the right place to score. This would transfer very well to Union I think.

Staggy he is the most high profile young player in British Rugby League. All the talk is about him at the moment and there was a genuine fear he would turn to rugby union. He's signed on for three years at Wigan but that means he is eligible to talk to Union clubs at 24. There's no reason this won't be followed by a continuing interest in Union with him heading over at a later date.

His brother has already signed for Sarries and Sarries have signed an agreement with Wigan to share facilities and for coaching workshops etc etc etc.

Sam,

I know all that and I don't deny that he could score oodles of tries and entertain the crowd.

However, as I see it when he signed a THREE year contract to stay in Rugby League. That should have put paid to the idea of his inclusion. It'll be 2014 before he could even consider joining Union and this will be a distant memory.

I'd imagine if he plays a blinder in this game he'll be in Union before his Wigan contract expires.

roddersm wrote:
I've watched him a few times and have been very impressed. He reminds me a bit of Christian Cullen. Very elusive and seems to always be in the right place to score. This would transfer very well to Union I think.

Yeah, I know what you mean. He's got that ability to just drift past players with a quick step without having to avoid them. His offload and disguised passing, while not in the Benji Marshall class, is very impressive.

Benji Marshal is a SERIOUS player.

red_stag wrote:Benji Marshal is a SERIOUS player.

Ah, so you've heard of him!

Red Stag
Boxing doesnt go and get its knickers in a knot when Sonny bill turns up for a pro fight.
I think you need to extend youre boundries.

Certainly have. I have Setanta Sports at work and watch NRL occasionally. I haven't see SuperLeague to same extent.

As I've said my problem is NOT with league.

aucklandlaurie wrote: Red Stag
Boxing doesnt go and get its knickers in a knot when Sonny bill turns up for a pro fight.
I think you need to extend youre boundries.

Auckland, he is more than welcome to join play. However the Barabarians is a special invitational honour and I feel they have let down a lot of rugby union players for this. Im happy enough to agree to disagree. However I wont change my position on this. This is a special event which has been cheapened for the sake of publicity.

I understand what you're saying about league players taking place of a union player.

But as I think already mentioned, this is a baa baa game, not a test, so he wil not be taking a real spot form any union player. It is a showcase and hopefully a friendly but competitive game. He will not be stopping any union players staking their claim for a pro spot.

An absolute non-brainer yes.

Here we have an English RL player who is finally backing up the hype. He'll be fine, after all he's got the best coach in the world for his introduction to Union!

When talking about Sonny Bill Williams you have to bring up this hilarious link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q4wCcDxfWc

Literally dragged the guy out off the streets. Or more likely out of a Mcdonalds.

auklandlaurie I would hardly call this a pro fight.

I say let the man play and let's enjoy the spectacle.

Just remember though - for every Jason Robison or Lote Tuquiri there's a Barrie-Jon Mather or a Henry Paul.

And let's not forget the amount of money wasted on Andy Farrell's toe injury.

Beshocked
I call it pro from the perspective that he gets a lot of money every time he goes in the ring, He donated $100,000 to the Christchurch earthquake fund from his last bout in june.
The point I was trying to make is that boxing people didnt turn round and say this is wrong that boxing purse should only be made available to boxers...in other words they dont get defensive and all precious about their code like some rugby union people.

Auckland I consider the BaaBaas to be an honour. This honour is going to someone who is from a different sport and has made a committment to that sport for the next 3 years.

Rugby Union is not a "code" it is a sport. Rugby League is a different sport. I also feel that Rugby Sevens is also a different sport.

No sport is exclusive - however for such an exclusive and prestigious invitational events like this I think that the Baabaas have made a poor call.

red Stag
tell me do you regard test cricket,one day cricket, and 20/20 cricket as three different sports as well?

I don't quite know is the honest answer Auckland. I don't know about cricket.

You made a good point earlier about Gaelic Football and Australia Rules Football. Similar sports which the players can play together but are differnet sports.

But Auck rugby union teams don't play league as well, whilst a County Cricket team will play 4 day 20/20 and one day cricket, so its a poor comparison.

red Stag
It may be that we come from such different environments, but down this way lots of guys switch between the codes and its just not a problem,in fact I have known of heineken cup players who come home in the Northern off season and play a few games of league to keep their fitness up, and because it is also an absolutely fantastic game.
you may note that most league union converts and even at the highest level are Aucklanders.

Why we have International Rules... played by.. 2 countries!!!

hersh
I admit the lineouts in League are garbage.

Oh definitely Auckland I know in Oz and NZ, people switch all the time. I do enjoy watching RL and still kinda annoyed that said I consider RL fans to be vermin.

I just consider it to be a different sport and certainly I don't see what this player has done to warrant inclusion in a showpiece event such as this.

red_stag wrote:I do enjoy watching RL and still kinda annoyed that said I consider RL fans to be vermin.

I wouldn't worry about it stag, northerners are pretty thick skinned....besides I'm sure most of them don't think much of you either....

Red Stag
When you say that he could be rewarded with a move to rugby union, does imply that you regard one as being superior to the other.or in other words condescending to rugby League