Sam Tomkins out until March with knee injury
Wednesday 11 November 2015 11:37, UK
Wigan Warriors and England full-back Sam Tomkins has been ruled out until the end of March after undergoing knee ligament surgery.
Tomkins suffered the problem in August while playing for New Zealand Warriors in a NRL match against West Tigers.
The 26-year-old, who has since re-joined Wigan ahead of the 2016 Super League season, had been included in Steve McNamara's England squad for the forthcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand despite the injury.
However, Tomkins was later ruled out of the clashes with the Kiwis and removed from the 19-man squad after failing to prove his fitness.
Following a further assessment of the injury, it was decided Tomkins would undergo surgery to repair the damage in his knee and he will now miss the beginning of the new Super League season, which starts in February.
"Sam Tomkins was seen by a senior and well-respected orthopaedic consultant who recommended surgery to deal with the posterior cruciate ligament injury which Sam suffered while playing for the New Zealand Warriors early last season," a Wigan statement read.
"The surgery was performed successfully on Friday and it is anticipated that Sam will make a full recovery.
"However, he will miss the start of the First Utility 2016 Super League Season and Wigan fans can look forward to him returning around the Easter period."
Fit-again England centre Dan Sarginson will fill the boots of Tomkins until the full-back is fit to resume his Wigan career.
The Warriors considered calling off Tomkins' understudy Ryan Hampshire's loan move to Castleford but went ahead with it after taking into account the player's expressed desire to play at half-back rather than full-back.
Hampshire shared the full-back role in 2015 with veteran Australian Matty Bowen, who has since retired, and coach Shaun Wane will now turn to Sarginson, a specialist centre who shone in two spells as a makeshift full-back in 2014, with Jason Robinson's son Lewis Tierney providing additional cover.
Sarginson is fit again after missing the last three months of the season with hamstring trouble but Wigan have inserted a clause in Hampshire's loan deal that will enable them to recall him in case of injury at half-back or full-back.
