Sports   (Talk about balls here.)

you could be 'half-right' Farrie if this press release is to be believed

Monday 10 October 2011 10:20

JOEL Tomkins is the target of a shock switch to rugby union.

English giants Saracens – coached by Warriors legend Andy Farrell – are preparing a lucrative offer for the Warriors centre after identifying him as the next league star who could make an impact on the 15-a-side game.

It is unclear whether Tomkins wants to switch codes. But if the academy-product decides to leave, Sarries would almost certainly have to pay a fee – earlier this season Tomkins signed a new five-year deal which runs until the end of 2015.

The interest from union emerged just three weeks after Tomkins and his younger brother Sam joined top management company James Grant in a move which also saw their Wigan-based agent, Andy Clarke, land a consultancy role with the firm.

England RU and ex-Warriors star Chris Ashton – another of Clarke’s clients – also linked-up with James Grant.

Tomkins is a close friend of Ashton – they were class-mates at St John Fisher High and progressed through the Warriors ranks together – and has seen how his profile and income have rocketed since he left Wigan to switch codes.

Rumours that both the Tomkins brothers were on union’s radar have rumbled for weeks. Sam was even named in a fictitious England 2015 World Cup team in the Sunday Times yesterday.