Sam Tomkins disciplined for his 'two fingers'

this from the Warriors website - next time Sam just blow a kiss at them - one thing to come out of Saturdays game is that there is a lot of ill feeling between these two teams and rumours abound about Ryan Bailey's alleged attack on a 'junior' Wigan player on Saturday night in London - more to follow on that I'm sure


Sam Tomkins has been the subject today of disciplinary action by Wigan Rugby League Club in respect of his disrespectful gesture to the Leeds fans during Saturday's Carnegie Challenge Cup Final. The Wigan Club regrets this behaviour by one of its players and takes full responsibility without limitation or excuses. The player has been censured and fined.

The Wigan Club has apologised formally to the Leeds Club and, through this Press Release, to Leeds fans generally.

Wigan Chairman and Owner, Ian Lenagan, commented:-

"We were ashamed at the gesture made to the Leeds fans by a Wigan player, Sam Tomkins, in Saturday's Final. Such gestures towards opposing fans have no place at Wigan or in the Rugby League family and both I and Michael Maguire condemn them unreservedly."

"Sam has come forward today to apologise voluntarily for his immature action which he knows reflects badly on the Wigan Club and himself and was disrespectful to Leeds fans generally. He is determined to learn personally from the experience which has detracted somewhat from our enjoyment of a great game and a Wigan victory."

Sam Tomkins commented:-

"I apologise for my gesture to the Leeds fans at Saturday's Cup Final which I regret immensely. I got caught up in the heat of the moment of celebrating a try at Wembley but understand that my actions were unacceptable. There are no excuses and if I could go back and change things, I would certainly do so.

"I accept the disciplinary action taken by the Club and hope my action does not reflect badly on the Wigan Club, the Coach or my team mates".

Wigvet,


'this from the Warriors website - next time Sam just blow a kiss at them - one thing to come out of Saturdays game is that there is a lot of ill feeling between these two teams and rumours abound about Ryan Bailey's alleged attack on a 'junior' Wigan player on Saturday night in London - more to follow on that I'm sure'

I always had you down as a quality poster!
Whatever has hearsay about Ryan Bailey got to do with what Sam did hours earlier
Fair play to the Wigan management for their swift action for their reaction to what was only an immature act!
I was at Headingley and witnessed the booing and behaviour of the home speccies,not nice to watch and listen to the unfair and vile comments from the people around me,and eventually and unfortunately he reacted.
A fine and a talking too is right punishment.

i agree fossil although the lad has clearly been upset by the booing of opposition fans (more than he"d care to admit) his actions were not what we have come to expect from the sport.we quite rightly condemn the actions of other sports players ,just hope this is the end of such incidents

He was caught out, disciplined and hopefully learned from it, now it should be let go......

apparently the initiator of the Ryan Bailey ‘incident’ has been asked by the club to remove his ‘tweet’ so that the incident can be investigated

as regards Sam I just hope the RFL deem Wigan’s internal action sufficient and take no further action as his presence will be most needed at the ’Wire’ on Sunday
and for anyone going to Warrington on Sunday please take note there are NO trains running on Sunday morning but you can get the train back

Seems to have been a bit of ill feeling between the two sets of players for some time now Whilst the incident should not be condoned it is quite easy to understand in the heat of the moment the reason for it. How much verbal abuse has Tomkins had from the Leeds fans in recent matches.Maybe this could also be Wigan's way of attempting to avoid a suspension for Tomkins from the R.F.L.

pathetic! if the fans give stick out i think they should take it bk .

he certainly took it bk off eric

fined £1000 suspended until the end of the 2012 season. Sam is expected to take his place in the wigan team against warrington ,That'll learn him

That's not Sams fault P.......

when Leeds scored a last minute try in the Challenge Cup,2 seasons ago,did anything happen to Danny McGuire,admitted not a 2 fingerd gesture,but he actually jumped onto the wall right in front of the Wigan fans,an d was obviously intending to wind them up

Oh, and what the hell has Cantona got to do with this thread,but there again it looks like some people actually condone players wading into the crowd

Didnt a Mr Lee Briers give a one fingered salute to the same Leeds fans and escape punishment. A fine, slap on the wrist and a warning is more than enough punishment.

what eric did was slightlt ott! the point im making is if the fans abuse the players they shouldnt be such mard arses if they get a bit of stick bk.in my days watching united if you abused opposition players n they gave you the fingers its no big deal.nowadays you have fans reporting them to stewards its pathetic!

I just don't get it
Fans hurl abuse and sing abusive songs aimed directly at certain players but get all 'High and Mighty' when they get one 'gesture' aimed back at them.
What's good for the goose etc.
Are the clubs going to fine all fans that sing 'THE REFEREE'S A WA..KER'
You hear that chant at most matches and it is a very personal and abusive attack on an individual yet nothing is said. Then the same folk that hand out that abuse get all upset when someone gives them the fingers.
Soft tarts

spot on douglas

I thought tv viewers were the people who complained

i thought it was the commentator who first brought attention to it

douglas
what you seem to forget is that the referees all of them apart from Matt thomason and Ronnie Laughton are Barclays Bankers ,especially Jamie Childs and Robert (the baby faced assasin) hicks. and the chant rings out with monotonous regularity at the Sports village.

Would they happen to be 2 Leyth refs by any chance
And that kind of chant goes without saying in "The Village" no doubt

douglas

Very good post

Not enough go to Leigh to create a chant, if they manage one its always directed at Wigan

no peter you are quite correct not many do go to the Sports village but those that do always stay until the end unlike a neighbouring teams supporters that we all know of.

what the leeds fans have been saying to sam anybody else would,ve shot over the wall and do a cantanor its disgraceful what they have been shouting and i cant understand the mentality of the wigan fans still booing and saying oh he loves it it was funny for a while but in my opinion its gone on too long and i dont think he likes it please stop now and cheer him instead or i believe he will go to union

good point saintpat as you say it has gone on too long give it a rest