Emotional Kyle Sinckler reveals he thought 'he'd have to retire' after latest injury

Tuesday, 15 November 2022 at 09:28

byRugby Rucker

Bristol Bears and England prop Kyle Sinckler has recalled his summer from hell as he feared he would never play again after suffering from a long-term back injury.

Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: "I’m very fortunate because I’m a professional athlete and we have good physios at the club and strength and conditioning, and I’ve got my own team outside.

"Every minute of the day was around my rehab and I just thought, 'Imagine if you were just a normal person who had a family and were doing a 9-5 and you were experiencing this stuff',

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🗣️ Kyle Sinckler: "At times, I would think, 'Am I ever going to play again?'. I was in so much pain. I couldn’t sit down. I couldn’t put my shoes and my socks on" 📝 @bencoles_ #TelegraphRugby telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/20…

6:01 PM · Nov 14, 2022

“I didn’t sleep” – Kyle Sinckler ranks his three toughest opponents

Bristol Bears and England tighthead-prop Kyle Sinckler has ranked his three toughest opponents from his rugby career so far.

#3. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

Position Second-row
Height 6 ft 6 in
Weight 268 lb
Caps 160

Sinckler, who grew up in a single-parent family in Tooting, south London, has been working with an organisation called Saviour World which has helped him to focus on his game and deal with emotional difficulties

Sinckler said: "We're actually good friends. I think that's how he knows how to get under my skin."

Did you know? Jones studied part-time for a degree in law at Swansea University, graduating on 21 July 2010

#2. Marcos Ayerza (Argentina)

Position Loosehead-prop
Height 6 ft 1 in
Weight 233 lb
Caps 66

Sinckler said: "Very, very good prop. When I was playing him I got no sleep the night before. He was that technically good and strong as hell."

Did you know? Outside of rugby, Ayerza's hobbies include playing the piano and polo.

#1. Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa)

Position Loosehead-prop
Height 6 ft 0 in
Weight 257 lb
Caps 117

Sinckler said: "Number one would have to be the beast. He's a strong boy and has over 100 caps for South Africa for a reason. He was somebody I really looked up to as a kid. He was the real deal...world-class."