Skivington offers update on potential Singleton return after cardiac event

Gloucester boss George Skivington admits that England hooker Jack Singleton, who has been out of action since he suffered a “cardiac event” in September, is no closer to knowing if he will ever play again.

The former Worcester Warriors, Toulon and Saracens ace, who has only played 40 minutes of a PREM Rugby Cup clash with Exeter Chiefs last September, was stood down by Gloucester’s medics for what was called an ‘extended period of time.’

Skivington has told RugbyPass that he believes that Singleton, 29, a member of the England squad that were World Cup finalists in 2019, still has a long way to go before he can play again, that’s even if he is allowed to lace up his boots again.

“We’d had a training session with Coventry, and he was fine, but he felt something in the food hall afterwards. It wouldn’t be a million miles off a year. We’ve continued to pay Jack as we’ve just carried on as if he were playing.

“I think, obviously, there’ll come a point in time where he’s going to want to continue to play rugby and be allowed to continue to play rugby if he’s allowed to, or if he’s going to have to start thinking about what his next steps in life are. But I’m sure Jack’s got a hold of that.

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“My conversations with Jack are more just around how are you doing, mate. No doubt. We’ll have some sort of conversation, hopefully more positive than negative, but he’s still got a bit to go, I’d say, before we’d see him on a rugby pitch again,” he said.

Skivington says that Singleton is allowed to exercise under strict conditions and says that he has been keeping in good spirits despite his career being on the line.

“I wouldn’t have an exact medical update, but what I do know is he’s doing running, he’s on the bike and is lifting weights. So he’s active. He’s always got some sort of heart monitor with an alarm around him at the moment.

“I’ve talked to Jack about bits, but my understanding is, there’s a threshold he’s allowed to get to and an alarm will let him know if he’s pushing that too hard or whatever, but he feels good in himself.

“I saw him lifting some pretty heavy weights the other day, so he’s obviously getting back to strength in terms of rugby and things like that. I’ve not had any conversations around what he’s hoping to play or whether he’s not.

“But he’s definitely, he’s in good health and in good spirits. He’s a great lad, Jack, he’s always smiling and that. ?So, I think in terms of general life, he’s in a pretty good spot. Rugby-wise, I’m not 100% sure,” he added.