Catalans Dragons head coach Joel Tomkins has stepped down from his position with immediate effect, citing personal and family reasons after just nine months in charge.
The 39-year-old Englishman, who took over the French Super League club in June 2023 following Steve McNamara's departure, had signed a contract extension last July that would have kept him at the club through the 2027 season.
"I have learned a great deal, both personally and professionally, and I am grateful for the connections and experiences gained along the way," Tomkins said in a statement released by the club. "I'm leaving the club a better coach than when I arrived. However, living away from my family for such a long time has been difficult. After recently spending some time at home for personal reasons, I have made the decision to end my contract with the club."
Tomkins, the older brother of former Man of Steel award winner Sam Tomkins, had a distinguished playing career as a dual-code international. He played rugby league for Wigan Warriors in two separate stints and had a rugby union spell with Saracens before finishing his playing career with Catalans Dragons in 2021, making 25 appearances over two seasons.
Since Tomkins' departure, the coaching duties have been handled by Ryan Sheridan, Michael McIlorum, and Mitchell Pearce, who have taken charge of the team's last three matches. The club confirmed this interim coaching arrangement will continue for the immediate future.
The Catalans Dragons currently sit with a 4-3 record in Super League play this season and were recently eliminated from the Challenge Cup in the quarter-finals by St Helens last week. The search for a permanent replacement for Tomkins is expected to begin shortly as the club looks to maintain their competitive position in the league.