21 Nov 2011

League star could play for Barbarians

7:03 am on 21 November 2011

The Wigan rugby league full-back Sam Tomkins could play for the Barbarians rugby union side against Australia at Twickenham this weekend.

Talks are under way to seal a deal for Tomkins to turn out, just a week after playing for England's rugby league team against the Kangaroos.

The 22-year-old recently signed a pledge not to talk to rugby union clubs for at least the next three years after his older brother Joel joined Saracens.

But Tomkins could make a one-off union appearance against the Wallabies.

Barbarians team manager Alan Evans says its a possibility, over the years they've brought some rugby league players into the Barbarians, some of whom were already on their way into rugby union, people like Sonny Bill Williams and Wendell Sailor, so a precedent has been set.

The Barbarians, coached by Graham Henry and Steven Hansen, have already announced a provisional star-studded 22-man squad drawn from 11 different countries.

The squad is expected to be finalised tonight.