Assault victim Sean Gleeson forced to call it a day

Hull KR centre Sean Gleeson has had to retire at 26 due to injuries sustained in a street assault (Getty)

The Hull KR centre Sean Gleeson has been forced to retire at the age of 26 after failing to recover fully from a savage assault outside a nightclub.

Gleeson, who joined Rovers on a three-year contract from Salford at the start of last season, sustained a serious eye injury in an attack by three men in Greater Manchester in March.

In a statement, the club said: “It is with deep sadness and regret that Hull Kingston Rovers can confirm Sean Gleeson has called time on his career with immediate effect.”

Gleeson, who also played for his hometown club Wigan, Widnes and Wakefield, made just six first-team appearances for Rovers after being dogged by injury.

“It is with saddened regret that I have made the decision to retire from the great sport of rugby league,” he 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 [chief executive] 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.

Gleeson hangs up his boots having made 134 appearances, scoring 37 tries. He represented Ireland at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Two men aged 21 and 24 were arrested on suspicion of assaulting Gleeson and were released on bail until later this month pending further police inquiries.

Meanwhile, Wakefield head coach Richard Agar has left the club in the wake of their 20-12 defeat to relegation rivals Bradford on Sunday, and has been replaced by his assistant James Webster.