I have just sent Sam a quick tweet informing him that if he trys anything fancy like running with the ball he may get subbed.

As Wigan born and bred, but now living in the Midlands,IMHO this is the most positive thing to happen in RL since the inception of SL.
I have a lot of friends in Gloucester, Worcester and Bath who for years, have given me (mainly) good humoured grief about how League is a minority sport played only by cloth capped, ferret lovers in Lancs and Yorks.
However I have noticed over the past twelve months or so that many of them are quietly aknowledging that we've got a lot of things that can improve the entertainment factor of their game. This is mainly because of the sucess few years ago of Jason Robinson, along with the resurgence of Wales (Edwards influence) as a dominant force.
Combine this with names like Owen Farrell, Chris Ashton, Kyle Eastmond, and, most recently the publicity around the Tomkins boys, they really are now begining to accept the skills in our game.
Believe me most RU fans certainly know of and admire Sam in a big way, far from taking anything away from our game this is only adding to the interest in Super League, with lots of new followers both on TV and watching live, Two good mates of mine from Walsall are now regular visitors to the DW.
I really hope Sam plays to his pottential and paves the way for more of this type of activity , which imo will surely benefit both codes (mainly ours) in the long term.

should be a good experience for him..... are the Balls "uncatchable" in rugger too.....

Rugby Union - a game of kicking
Sam tomkins, - tug at cathing (good at other things before Wigan starts crying)

gonna have to be on it to impress your future employers Sammy boy

Very true - before living down here in the Midlands for the last 2 years I didn't quite see how much RL was up against. The sad reality is most Rugby fans in this area don't even know that another code exists other than Union and couldn't begin to tell you a rule, player or even team. Whilst living here I've recognised the huge task our game faces to bring itself to the wider audience and having our stars on wider display must surely help.

Ideally he'll play well and rip the Aussies to shreds, and Yawnion fans who watch it will think 'Wow - he came from Rugby League?', and may even give it a try.

We'll see.

What is more likely to happen is that they make an immediate mega offer, making his recent contract renewal irrelevant, because Wigan (or more accurately Lenegan) will want to cash in.....Add to this, interest in Rugby League players will just increase.

Remember, when we used to sign Rugby Union players in the 70's and 80's??....Did that make us want to watch Union??......Hmmmmm, no, it just made us want to sign more of their stars....

Would be one hell of a risk from Lenegan though, and would surely face the wrath of the fans.

Interesting to see how it'll play out anyway. He could just get a two minute cameo at the end.

seems to show the lack of star attractions that rugby union possess that they need to poach the the stars of rugby league to bump the attendance up. Having seen their behaviour in NZ no wonder they need rugby league players to show them how to behave and perform.

What if he plays e?

It doesn't benefit RL, if anything it makes our sport look desperate! Awful words from Leneghan and shame on Wigan RLFC!! Sam will be in RU in three years anyway so it'll be a bit of practice for him.

He'll belnd in with 29 other blokes who play e in every game of that sport!

Yep! I'm sure RU clubs will think "right let's raid RL of all it's good players instead of having to pay a fortune for Aussies/Kiwis/French/Argy players who will already be on a fortune." Nothing but bad for RL all this!

I cant see that Sam will be overly successful in this one off game. To be a RU fullback you need a good kicking game and whilst with practice I've no doubt he'll improve that part of his game, I dont think its one of his core skills at present.

But this is a Barbarians game, and kicking is frowned upon, so a running game will suit him.

They should have asked Kyle Eastmond to play; or is he injured?

Whats the worst that could happen?Sam has nothing to lose playing this game, he will still be back at Wigan at start of the season.

he could break his leg... i would imagine that would be pretty bad if you were a wigan fan.

playing on the wing so no danger of him even seeing the ball nevermind touching it

Funny that because Jason Robinson and Chris Ashton both saw a lot of the ball on the wing.

Just fancy that. Playing someone with a left foot step on the right wing!!

Sam Tomkins the saviour of rugby league.

its the barbarians who cares ........??

how did rugby League Legend Willie Mason get on when he played....no one cared then and only Wigan fans care now ......

He'll be a rubbish winger playing for a Rubbish team in a rubbish sport, I wont be watching it...it makes our game look stupid ...it makes us look like we are grateful that the mighty Rugby Union have acknowledged one of our players might be good.....

Somehow the media will end up making sure he'll give the game of Union more publicity than the game of Rugby League.

stupid stupid idea.....

They'll be easily placated with a 30+ year old Aussie brought in. Maybe even Lockyer could blow the cobwebs off his boots for a season.

Strange interview on SSN.

"I'm not auditioning for a job or anything, I'm at Wigan for the nest few years and fully commited to rugby league"

then seconds later

"I may look to joining Joel in the future, but that's a few years away yet"

Is it any worse than him agreeing to play in that farcical England v Exiles game earlier in the season.

The fans there certainly let him know what the RL community thought of his decision to play in that joke, he was booed every time he touched the ball.

I don't think playing for the Barbarians will get a reception as hostile as that.