Asked to pick his backline for the England team in the Union 6 Nations beginning in February in the Sunday Times, he goes for:

15- Sam Tomkins!!!!!
14-Chris Ashton
13-Ben Foden
12-Owen Farrell
11-Dave Strettle
10-George Ford
9-Ben Youngs

A few points: 1) Good that he hasn't got any influence in RFU any more as he would clearly be raiding League on a regular basis 2) Either he knows something we don't or he hasn't bothered ever reading up about Sam's current contract status 3) If Sam doesn't end up in the England Union squad before the next World Cup in 2015, I'm Jerry Guscott 4) It says a lot that of the 7 names he chooses, 5 of them grew up playing Rugby League....

Maybe he knows far more than we do. I have a horrible feeling that there's a clause in there somewhere about Sam playing the odd game of RU.

Exposure. Plus remember we pay him roughly what most union clubs would so if he could play the union internationals and get paid for those too we eliminate the reasons he would leave us to play union full time. I'm all for it providing we get compensated if
He gets injured and he doesn't have to play loads of matches during our season.

Im not convinced sam will be here for 3 years. His contract states that he or his agent cannot speak to Union or NRL clubs. Wigan authorised Sam to play for the Barbarians not Sam or his agent. Theres nothing to say that the RFU wont contact Wigan and agree a buy out for Sam from his current contract. A huge transfer fee bankrolled by the RFU and a wage that will be consistent to his current Wigan deal could be the key. If Wigan are contacted and Wigan speak to Union then he is likely to go. He is not in breach of his contract. I think this contract is a smoke screen for maybe the next 12 months to passify the fans for Joel leaving. Maybe im cynical but if Sam is here in 3 years ill bare my ass in the co-op window

Disaster for the sport if Sam leaves. I don't believe any player is bigger than this club or bigger than the sport, but what this transfer would represent could spoil the bright future of RL we all hope for.

Why is every other thread about Rugby Union these days. WHO CARES!!!!!!!

If I had to pick my Liverpool team to play Villa on Sunday, Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo and Xavi would be it, doesn't mean they will sign for us though!!!!

Woodwards's squad choices I believe are a projection of the future, George Ford hardly ever plays for Leicester Tigers as he is only 18 I think in total he has played 2-3 premiership games. To think he would leave out Manu Tuilagi for the up and coming six nations shows the selection is miss quoted or he's been smoking herbal leafs.

So even Sir Clive thinks that Tomkins best position is fullback. What do the "Sam for stand off" brigade think of that? (Or is it "fly-half"icon_wink.gif

That fact he's picked Ben Foden and Owen Farrell out of their most effective positions shows he has lost it.

I think that it is further evidence that Sir Clive is a massive self-publicist and his selection screams 'look at me I'm controversial'.

Sam is a non-starter, Foden's best position is full back (I'm pretty sure he's never played centre) and with just 5 Premiership matches under his belt, Ford is a long way off ready for starting the 6 Nations.

The crazy thing is Ford is behind Toby Flood by some margin at the Tigers why on earth would he get a call up to the England squad, I have respect for Clive but he can't be serious with this selection for the up and coming six nations.