The Gloucester Rugby club has announced that their hooker, Jack Singleton, who also plays for England, will be absent from the field for a considerable duration. This follows a cardiac episode he experienced in September.
Rhys Hughes, Head of Medical, released a health update confirming the situation, stating: “It is with regret that Gloucester Rugby must announce Jack Singleton, our hooker, will be unavailable to play for an undetermined length of time.”
According to the club, the 29-year-old player has been subjected to “an extensive series of medical evaluations, in consultation with heart specialists” ever since the aforementioned incident.
The announcement also mentioned that “The Gloucester Rugby medical staff will continue to provide Jack with their complete assistance” during this period.
Singleton, who has earned seven caps for England, was last seen playing for Gloucester in the Gallagher PREM Round 1 match against Exeter.
The hooker, standing at 5’11 and weighing 111kg, last represented England in a game against Argentina in 2022. His subsequent move to Toulon has made it unlikely for him to be considered for future international Test matches.
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This development exacerbates the existing injury concerns for the Cherry and Whites, as several other players, including captain Lewis Ludlow, Arthur Clark, and Jack Clement, are already on the sidelines due to injuries.
It has been reported that vice-captain Clark has undergone a surgical procedure on his foot, while Clement and Ludlow have both had operations to address injuries to their ankle and thumb, respectively.
In other team news, Val Rapava-Ruskin is currently managing a recurring issue with his knee, and prop Jamal Ford-Robinson is showing “positive progress” in his recovery from knee surgery performed during the summer.
Josh Hathaway and recent acquisition Rob Russell are anticipated to rejoin training sessions in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, young fullback Ben Redshaw has started engaging in light training exercises after suffering a fractured ankle while on duty with the England U20s team.
Gloucester further stated that a number of other players, which includes Olly Allport, George Barton, Will Butler, Max Llewellyn, Kirill Gotovtsev, and George Knowles, are currently unavailable for selection due to various short-term injuries.
In a positive turn of events, Gloucester’s new All Blacks signing, Nepo Laulala, is set to make his debut in the Gallagher Premiership derby against Bath at The Rec.
The New Zealand prop, capped 53 times, is starting at tighthead following a four-month rehabilitation period after rupturing his Achilles last season. Head coach George Skivington has made a total of three changes from the previous week, with Matias Alemanno, Freddie Thomas, and James Venter included, while Gloucester maintains a 6–2 split on the bench.
