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Hull KR have signed Joel Tomkins from Wigan Warriors with immediate effect.

The Mail understands the 31-year-old former England international had held discussions with Rovers regarding a move to KCOM Craven Park and a deal is now believed to have been done.

The capture marks a significant piece of business for KR coach Tim Sheens, by adding a versatile player who can fill in across the back row or even at centre. With Andrew Heffernan still absent from the KR line-up and no signs of him making an immediate return, Tomkins can fill in at centre, with Rovers’ back row already stacked with numbers.

The former England man and Saracens dual-code player is currently suspended by the Warriors following an altercation where he was filmed abusing bar staff.

The release of the video on social media last weekend brought a swift response from the Warriors, who suspended Tomkins for four weeks and handed the back rower a £10,000 fine. Tomkins’ actions have led to the end of his association with a club in which he made his debut for back in 2005 and that put Rovers on alert.

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KR are understood to not be the only club to have looked at bringing Tomkins in, but have shrugged off the competition to land his services. He could even make his debut for KR against Castleford Tigers a week on Sunday.

Sheens has been actively looking to strengthen his squad ahead of an expected Middle 8s battle to avoid relegation from Super League, with recruitment proving difficult.

It’s understood Rovers and Sheens have no problem with signing a player who has hit the headlines for the wrong reason in the last week, with Tomkins’ behaviour known to be out of character, and the player showing both remorse and a desire to get his career back on track.

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