Saracens snap up Wigan ace Tomkins

SARACENS have confirmed the signing of England rugby league international Joel Tomkins, but will have to wait at least three years beforehaving the chance to gettheir hands on his younger brother.

The Aviva Premiership champions, who have paid £250,000 to secure the release of Joel from the four years left on his Wigan contract, were also linked with the 22-year-old Sam, whose capture would be an even bigger prize.

However, Wigan have softened the blow of losing Joel by handing Sam a new five-year contract and making him the highest-paid player in rugby league.

The England full-back had, like his older brother, signed a new five-year deal at the start of the 2011 season and yesterday extended that by another 12 months to the end of 2016, with a cast-iron commitment to see out a minimum of three years.

The Super League club and Saracens, who are coached by former Wigan captain Andy Farrell, also unveiled a partnership which will feature at least one cross-code match within the next 12 months and could eventually lead to player exchanges.

Joel Tomkins, 24, who will link up with Saracens when he returns from a holiday in Lanzarote, “I will always be a proud Wiganer but there is something very special happening at Saracens and I can’t wait to be part of it.”