Catalans Dragons star Sam Tomkins has confirmed he will retire at the end of the 2025 season, for the second time, bringing the curtain down on a storied playing career that has spanned both hemispheres.
Tomkins, who previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, initially intended to bow out in 2023 before returning midway through last year to help Catalans during an injury crisis.
But younger brother and current Dragons head coach Joel Tomkins has now made it clear: this will be Sam’s final season.
Tomkins stepping away from Dragons role entirely
Despite speculation that Tomkins might transition into a backroom role with the French club while juggling his television work, Joel confirmed those plans are off the table.
“Sam’s made it quite clear that he’ll retire at the end of the season,” Joel told reporters.
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“He’s got a role in the media moving forward, so he’s quite clear that he wants to move forward working in the media, whether that’s on Sky or with another broadcaster.”
The 35-year-old and his family will remain in Perpignan, but his future lies away from the Dragons’ staff setup.
“Sam’s pretty clear that he’s a supporter of the Dragons, he and his family love living in Perpignan, and they’ll continue to, but he’s got a clear motivation that he wants to move into a media role in the years to come.”
Tomkins is also expected to continue as England’s team manager for this year’s Ashes series, before fully shifting his focus to the broadcasting world in 2026.