England international Jack Singleton is closing in on a return to rugby after suffering a heart attack almost a year ago, but will now be on the lookout for a new club. The 30-year-old has spent the last 11 months on an extensive recovery programme after suffering a cardiac event in training last September with Gloucester.
Recovery progress and contract situation
The four-cap hooker has now reached the point where a return to full training is being considered, providing he successfully completes the remaining stages of his rehabilitation. However, any return to rugby will not come with Gloucester. The club have confirmed that he will not be contracted to the Cherry and Whites this season, with Gloucester having signed Wales captain Dewi Lake, leaving him looking elsewhere.
Gloucester head coach George Skivington praised both the player and the club's medical department for their work over the last year. “As friends and colleagues, everyone at the club has been pleased to see Jack’s progress in his health and wellbeing following what was undoubtedly a frightening experience for him and his family,” said Skivington.
Medical team praised
“I’m incredibly proud of our medical department for the care and support they have provided throughout Jack’s journey, from recognising the symptoms early to coordinating specialist treatment and guiding his rehabilitation.” Singleton added: “I’d like to thank everyone at Gloucester, the staff, my friends and family, and the supporters for the incredible support I’ve had over the last year. It has meant a huge amount to me.”
In an interview with the Times, Singleton, who lost his father to a heart attack when he was just 13, opened up on the scary incident last September following a training session between Gloucester and Coventry. “After the session I had a bit of a tight chest, which wasn’t out of the ordinary for me. I’d had it previously but this time it lingered for a bit,” he said.
Details of the incident
“I went to some meetings. I mentioned it briefly to the doctor but didn’t make a big deal of it. I had some throbbing in my arm, which I didn’t mention. It got a lot worse when I was having food. I started getting dizzy and sweaty. That was probably about 40 minutes after the session.”
“I had a golf tee time booked, so I was going to leave the club, have a lie-down and then play golf. As I was in the car, I was like, you know, I’ll just go and mention it all to the doctor. She slipped me an aspirin and a physio from the club drove me to hospital. The hardest part was calling people and saying, ‘I’m in hospital. I’m having a heart attack.’ I had to call my mum, and obviously we have family history, so that wasn’t a pleasant phone call to make.”
Looking for a new club
Looking for a new club, Singleton said he would like to stay in the Prem, but is open to offers abroad. Gloucester have reportedly written a letter, outlining all the measures and protocols they would put in place if Singleton was to play for them in order to ease the concerns of any other clubs.
Singleton has also been speaking to players who have played rugby after having heart operations, including Cardiff's Josh McNally, to learn more about what to expect. However, he believes his situation is an unprecedented one. “I haven’t found anyone in rugby who had a similar thing to me,” he says. “All I ever wanted to do was play rugby, and I’d love to come back. I’m looking forward to getting back out on a pitch.”
