This crass and frankly ridiculous statement does Joel Tomkins no favours.

The fans don't need patronising, false platitudes!

There is nothing 'special' about a nomadic, soulless club with a hardcore support of less than 6000 fans which loses £3 million per annum!

99.99999% of players in RU have boot deals.

You dont seriously think that Joel wont be getting a lot of, lets say "extras" as part of his signing on fee do you? Very naive.

But Coventry Warrior is right. Many players have boot deals but you don't need a boot deal to play. Despite my world class natural talent, a gift from god some said, I was never contacted by Nike or Adidas. Their loss, as my nan used to tell me.

His agent will have sorted him a boot deal as part of his "extras"

I have no doubts about that at all. Id expect to see him on the front cover of whatever national magazine union has in the next couple of months too. He should have made an appearance on Question of Sport and possibly that one on Sky by Easter too.

Was it common knowledge that Joel instigated the move to Saracens and not the other way round?