Sean Gleeson retires from rugby league

Correspondent

Hull Kingston Rovers have today confirmed that centre Sean Gleeson has retired from rugby league with immediate effect.

The 26-year-old centre suffered a serious eye injury after an incident on a night out in Wigan, earlier this year. Following a meeting with medical experts last week, he decided that the time had come to end his rugby league career.

“It is with saddened regret that I have made the decision to retire from the great sport of rugby league,” Gleeson said.

“Coming to terms with this news has been difficult but I would like to thank my agent, Martin Shuttleworth, for his support and guidance during these hard times as well as Mike Smith at Hull KR for his support and understanding of the circumstances I have been going through.

“I would also like to say a big thank you to the Hull KR fans for welcoming me to the club and to Hull, where I have made so many friends in and out of rugby league.

“Lastly, I would like to thank Craig Sandercock for believing in me, giving me the chance to play for a club with such great heritage and for standing by me through the injuries that I sustained. I have learned so much from Craig and have massive respect for him.”

Gleeson’s spell with the Robins had been blighted by a string of injuries, and he played just six games for the club after signing in 2013 from Salford.

He also played for his hometown club of Wigan, as well as Widnes, Wakefield and Salford, after making his senior debut in 2005. He also represented Ireland at the 2008 World Cup.

“This is sad news for everybody connected to Hull Kingston Rovers and our thoughts are with Sean, his family and his friends at this difficult time,” Rovers chief executive Mike Smith added.

“Although Sean’s time with the club has been hampered by injury, he has always conducted himself with the utmost professionalism in a bid to get back on the field and for his career to come to an end in this fashion is very cruel.

“The club will continue to offer its full support to Sean in the comings days and weeks as he begins to look towards the future.”