Catalans appoint Tomkins as boss to end of season

Joel Tomkins' Catalans Dragons ended a seven-game winless run last Saturday

Catalans Dragons have appointed former forward Joel Tomkins as their head coach until the end of the season.

The 38-year-old ended his playing career with Les Dracs in 2021 having made 25 appearances for the club over two seasons.

Having previously worked as part of Wigan's coaching staff during their quadruple-winning 2024 campaign, he moved to Perpignan for 2025 and took over on a temporary basis for the past five games after Steve McNamara's exit earlier this term.

"I am delighted to be appointed as head coach of the Catalans Dragons and I want to thank the club's owner and directors for the trust they've placed in me," Tomkins told the club website.

"I may be still early in my coaching journey, but I come into this role with passion, enthusiasm and total belief in what this team can achieve.

"I've been fortunate to learn from some outstanding mentors and my experiences within the game, and I'm ready to bring a fresh perspective to the team and club."

The French side ended a seven-game losing streak with a 32-0 win over Huddersfield last week and are five points off the play-off places heading into Saturday's trip to Wakefield.