Young Gun: Jack Singleton – Worcester hooker

Jack Singleton wished he had travelled to Italy to take on Zebre this weekend but the youngster has now set his sights on the A-League to show Dean Ryan what he’s made of.
The 19-year-old, who moved to Sixways in 2014 from Saracens, made the Challenge Cup his big target for the season but the arrival of Georgian hooker Jaba Bregvadze last month set him back.
As well as the A-League, Singleton will be looking to impress with Nottingham where he was dual-registered this week.
“Unfortunately I’m not in the European squad this season which is a bit disappointing as it was a big target for me,” he told TRP.
“The arrival of Jaba has bumped me down the pecking order but luckily the A-League starts this week so I’m hoping I’ll get some game time there.
“I’m dual registered with Nottingham too so it’ll be good to get involved in the Championship.
“I was captain of the Saracens academy team but I found out late in the season that they wouldn’t keep me on.
“Rory Teague, one of the academy coaches at Saracens, thought I had some potential regardless so he put me in contact with Worcester.
“I was pretty much sold straight away after meeting Sam Vesty and a month later I signed my contract.”
Singleton began his rugby journey with Harpenden RFC, progressing from the minis to U18s when he won the National Cup on his last game for the club.
Saracens were already aware of his talent but that same summer he left St George’s school to join Oaklands, Sarries’ AASE College, and became a full-time member of the club’s academy.
After the move to Worcester, he was named in the England U20s squad and he is looking to end his youth career at the Junior World Cup in Manchester next June.
He said: “We had a camp last month with England U20s and it was very good. Things are looking good for the Six Nations. I hope I can get involved as much as possible even if the competition will be tough against Jack Walker.
“He’s been in the team for two years already and you can tell he’s got a lot of experience from playing a lot in the Championship. But I can’t worry about what he does. I’ll have to focus on my own game and do my best.
“I love to carry the ball and get involved in attack as much as I can but as a hooker you can’t look past the set piece.
“The World Cup is in Manchester this year so it’d be nice to get picked and play in front of my family.”
NICK VERDIER