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Originally Posted by ripper868
Yeah I read your original comment and thought fair enough - then looked a bit closer and had a 'hang on' sort of moment.
Very odd that a player would be pulled into a team that has so much history and staure behind it for a one off - It is normal practice to always include an uncapped test player and one from the team they are playing - Odd they have gone with Tompkins. Wish him well though, be interesting to see where he lines up.
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It's even more odd imo because for the last 6 months or so, until Tomkin's extended his contract at Wigan, there was huge rumors going around that he was switching codes.
To stop him moving, the RFL have even brought a new rule in that basically allows teams to spend above the salary cap, if it entails keeping England players from defecting over to rugby union. Which was the problem all along for Wigan, they couldn't afford to beat Saracens offer and still be under the salary cap.
After all this the RFL have given him the OK to play a Union game at England's HQ. They must feel they're going to get benefits from this through publicity and having one of their own play their but it definitely took me by surprise.