Jack Singleton has spoken publicly for the first time about the heart attack that stopped his rugby career in its tracks, saying he is now in a much safer place and ready to get back to doing what he loves.
The hooker, who has signed for Glasgow Warriors, suffered the cardiac event over a year ago and has spent the time since focused on his recovery and getting the all-clear to return to professional sport. For most players, a year on the sidelines would be frustrating enough. For Singleton, it was a fight to get his life back on track before even thinking about rugby.
Singleton, who has represented England at international level, admitted the experience was a serious wake-up call. Finding out you have had a heart attack at a young age, while playing at the top level of professional rugby, is not something anyone expects. It changes the way you look at everything, not just your career.
The 29-year-old has now been given the green light by medical staff to return to full training and is set to pull on the Warriors jersey after completing his move to Scotstoun. Glasgow will be hoping he can bring experience and quality to their forward pack, and by all accounts Singleton is hungry to prove he still has plenty to offer.
His journey back has not been straightforward. Cardiac screening in professional sport has become increasingly rigorous in recent years, and any player returning after a heart-related issue faces a long road through medical checks, specialist consultations and careful monitoring before being allowed to train competitively again. Singleton has gone through all of that and come out the other side.
Speaking about the move to Glasgow, Singleton said the club gave him the confidence and support to take the next step. There is something significant about a club being willing to bring in a player who has been through what he has been through. It says a lot about how Warriors have approached this signing, treating him as a rugby player first rather than a risk to be managed.
Glasgow have had a solid foundation in the front row in recent seasons but adding a player of Singleton’s experience gives head coach Franco Smith more options as they look to compete on multiple fronts in the United Rugby Championship and in Europe.
For Singleton himself, this is clearly about more than rugby. Getting back onto a professional pitch after a heart attack is a statement. It shows the work he has put in behind the scenes, the medical support around him, and his own determination to not let one of the scariest moments of his life define what comes next.
He has been careful not to rush things. Sources close to the player say he took the recovery process seriously and never pushed to return before the medical team were satisfied. That kind of patience is not easy for a professional athlete used to being in the thick of things every week.
Glasgow fans will be keen to see him in action, and there is a real feelgood element to this story. Rugby can be brutal and unforgiving, and players often disappear from the scene without much explanation. The fact that Singleton is back, talking openly about what happened and looking forward to a new chapter at a strong URC club, is the kind of story the sport needs.
He said himself that he is in a much safer spot now, and those around him at Glasgow will be making sure it stays that way. The Warriors have the medical infrastructure and the staff to manage his return carefully, and there is no suggestion he will be rushed back before he is fully ready.
Scottish rugby has seen some real characters come through the doors at Scotstoun over the years, and Singleton looks set to add his own story to that list. A former England international, a survivor of a serious cardiac event, and now a Glasgow Warrior. It is quite the journey.