Troubled Joel Tomkins leaves Wigan for Hull Kingston Rovers

LONDON: Former England international Joel Tomkins has signed for Hull KR after leaving Wigan following the bar incident that led to his suspension.

Tomkins was banned by Wigan earlier this month after a social media video showed him engaging in a foul-mouthed rant at bar staff.

The 31-year-old was fined £10,000 ($13,000) and told the row would be investigated by the Super League club.

But Tomkins took the matter into his own hands by offering his resignation to Wigan and the back-row forward has signed an 18-month deal with Hull KR.

"I'm sure everybody is aware of what's gone on at Wigan and I accepted the punishment from them," said Tomkins, who made more than 250 appearances in two spells for the Warriors either side of a brief spell in rugby union with Saracens.

"After sitting down with my family and thinking a bit harder about it, I decided that the best thing for all parties would be for me to leave the club and I offered my resignation to Kris Radlinski, which he accepted.

"It has been embarrassing for me, there's no doubt about that, and it's a sad situation for me to leave Wigan in this way, but it's also an opportunity for me to move to a club that's on the rise and that has some big plans moving forward. I'm genuinely excited to be a part of that."

Tomkins is set to make his debut for Rovers at Castleford on Sunday after meeting up with his new team-mates for training on Monday.