Former Wigan Warriors player Sam Tomkins took to Instagram to announce a new venture – entering the wine-making industry.
The two-time Man of Steel uploaded a photo with him holding his son in the Perpignan countryside, where the fullback currently resides, as a key player for the Catalan Dragons.
Tomkins will be looking to play his part in the Dragons’ efforts to top the league and lift the League Leaders’ Shield.
However, the 34-year-old – who announced in March that he would be retiring from rugby league at the end of the season – is keen to start a new adventure making his own wine.
He captioned his Instagram post: “Drinking wine is easy… so making it can’t be that hard can it? New project on the way.”
The backdrop of the photo appears to be a vineyard, which is presumably where the Englishman plans to make his alcohol.
Tomkins is set to remain in the south of France after retirement, taking up an off-field role at his current club. This, coupled with the winemaking, will keep the father of four very busy.
Yet the most difficult part of the task might be to avoid indulging in his own produce.
Peter Charles Leitch, the New Zealand businessman and promoter of rugby league, quipped: “Best of luck with your new adventure mate, just remember you can’t drink all the profits.”
He responded jovially: “That will be the biggest challenge.”
The three-time Super League champion will not be able to focus on the wine too much just yet, as he prepares for the final two league games of the season, ahead of the playoffs.
The priority for now will be to add one more Super League Grand Final victory to cap off an illustrious career spanning over 15 years.
Yet Tomkins, who is used to being successful – having scored over 1,000 points in professional rugby league – will certainly hope his wine adventure can be just as fruitful.
