England international released by club following heart attack

Singleton has undergone an extensive recovery programme with the support of Gloucester and external specialists.

The club have confirmed he has now reached a position where he can consider returning to full training, subject to successfully completing the final stages of his rehabilitation.

However, Gloucester also confirmed Singleton will not be contracted to the club for the 2026/27 season.

Head coach George Skivington said: “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.

“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 wrote on Instagram: “At the moment, I’m still unable to do contact while I’m on blood thinners, but once I’m medically cleared, I’m really looking forward to integrating back into full team training.

"With my current contract running until September, the next step will be finding the right opportunity to integrate back into full team training when I’m medically cleared.

"I’d also 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."

Singleton will now consider the next steps in his playing career.

Steve Borthwick’s side appear to have landed on the more favourable half of the draw, raising hopes of another deep run on the sport’s biggest stage.

From the pool phase to a possible final in Australia, here is England’s projected route through the tournament — and the major rivals who could stand in their way.

England have been drawn with Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe in Pool F at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Although Wales are likely to strengthen by then, Steve Borthwick’s team will still be firm favourites to top the pool and advance to the round of 16 without major difficulty.

If England top their group, they will meet the Pool B runners-up in the round of 16. Pool B features South Africa, Italy, Georgia and Romania. The Springboks are expected to win the pool, meaning England would avoid the reigning back-to-back world champions, and the remaining teams are unlikely to pose a major threat.

Italy are the most probable candidates for second place. Although they are an improving side and far from a guaranteed victory, England should still be confident of beating them.

Italy’s defeat would set up a quarter-final against a runner-up from either Pool A or Pool E. Pool A includes the All Blacks and hosts Australia, raising the possibility of a rematch of the 2003 final between England and the Wallabies — a tricky prospect given Australia’s home advantage.

The Pool E runner-up is most likely to be Japan, though the USA or Samoa could also feature. Regardless, Australia are expected to progress, potentially paving the way for a thrilling showdown with a traditional rival.

If England can navigate the Wallabies without major setbacks, they should reach the semi-finals — at which point the outcome becomes far harder to predict. Their side of the draw will feature two third-placed teams and two pool winners, and it’s likely that one of those pool winners will progress to the semis.

That would mean facing the winner of either Pool C or Pool D. Argentina are favourites in Pool C, while Pool D could be topped by either Ireland or Scotland. Any of these sides would pose a significant test, but England would still back themselves to compete strongly against each of them.

And if they overcome their semi-final opponents, the most probable finalists waiting on the other side of the draw would be New Zealand or South Africa. Both are powerhouse rugby nations with exceptional squads, though South Africa have had the upper hand in recent years as back-to-back World Cup champions and current Rugby Championship holders.

That sets up the real possibility of a repeat of the 2019 final in Japan, where the Springboks claimed a 32–12 victory.

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