George Skivington admits latest coaching appointment is a 'gamble'

Gloucester head coach George Skivington admits that the decision to appoint former England international Joel Tomkins as defence coach ahead of next season “is a gamble.”

The Cherry and Whites this week appointed Warrington-born dual-code international Tomkins, 39, who played for Saracens between 2011 and 2014, to replace Dom Waldouck on Skivington’s staff this summer.

Tomkins resigned as boss of Super League Catalans Dragons earlier this month after just 25 games due to personal circumstances, and within weeks, his move to Kingsholm was confirmed amid criticism that he lacks union coaching experience.

But he won three England caps at outside centre against Australia, Argentina and the All Blacks after Manu Tuilagi was injured before the 2013 autumn internationals, and Skivington says that Tomkins regrets switching back to league.

“I know a lot of the rugby league guys, especially at Wigan and had a lot of conversations about Joel as a character, what he brings, and then obviously met with Joel and was really impressed with him as an individual. He’s ambitious.

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“He regrets leaving union all those years ago. He likes rugby union and is going to move his family down here from up north, settle into the area, and rip into it. There is someone really strong and hungry.

“It’s a gamble, but there’s plenty of previous examples of rugby league guys with very little coaching experience in rugby union who’ve done pretty well. Matty Peet from Wigan couldn’t speak highly enough of him as a character. And said if he wanted to come and coach at Wigan, he’d have him straight away.

“He has played rugby union for England. So he knows how to play rugby union, and I think we all start coaching somewhere.

“He’s obviously got experience in rugby league, but I think there’s a punt with everything we do. There’s a punt in bringing in someone who’s older, experienced, who maybe isn’t as hungry to learn as there is bringing in someone hungry.

“So there’s definitely a punt, but I believe Joel will be very good at what he brings. I also know we’ve got coaches, including myself, in the building who can help support him in certain areas that might be a bit alien to him,” said Skivington.