JOEL TOMKINS IS SUSPENDED FOR VILE ABUSE
FORMER england forward Joel tomkins has been suspended for four weeks after a video showing him being abusive to bar staff appeared on social media, his club Wigan Warriors have announced.
tomkins’s younger brother and team-mate sam has also been fined £5,000 following an incident which appears to show the pair drunk.
the super League club say the two players have ‘ expressed shame and regret about their behaviour’ and will now investigate the incident.
Wigan executive director Kris Radlinski said in a club statement: ‘i was pretty disgusted at the video that i saw on saturday evening.
‘ our players fully understand the role that they have to play within the community and to see two of our senior players behave in such a way disappointed me greatly.
‘they aren’t just role models for the young kids in the town, they’re role models for the younger players in the squad.
‘it is impossible to put a strong culture in place if players you trust to drive those standards act in such a way.
‘Having spoken to Joel and sam they expressed shame and regret about their behaviour and the effects it has had on everybody concerned.
‘Both of them are fully aware that they have disrespected the club and the town and that they let themselves and their families down.
‘the club will be making no further comment until the investigation has been completed.’
the clip appeared on social media after Wigan lost 23-0 to Warrington in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup quarter-final on saturday.
Joel tomkins, 31, will now miss Wigan’s next four super League fixtures as they look to close a four-point gap on leaders st Helens.
utility back sam tomkins, 29, won the last of his 14 england caps in 2014.