JLS star JB Gill says horrific rugby injury was 'meant to be' as it drove him to music

express.co.uk:

JLS singer and songwriter JB Gill had a glittering career ahead of him as a professional sportsman after excelling at youth rugby, but a horrific injury as a child disqualified him from progressing further.

However JB insisted the painful injury was "meant to be" as it led him to music."Do I feel like everything happened for a reason to steer me to where I am today?

Oh absolutely," he told Express.co.uk, adding: "I'm a firm believer in that."During secondary school, the talented youngster joined pro rugby club London Irish and, according to his proud mum Cynthia, "was on a trajectory to playing professionally".Then during a competitive away game in Europe, he suffered an agonising ankle injury when he was tackled by another player."Guys that I played rugby with [before my injury] have gone on and played in the premiership, 1st division, 2nd division...

so there's no doubt that I might have been able to make a career out of it," JB revealed to Express.co.uk.However, his injury changed everything - and the disappointed star resigned himself to the fact that "I perhaps wouldn't go into professional sport".JB continued: "There are a certain number of spots in terms of players retiring, and new players coming through the ranks."Of course I was one of a number of maybe 15 or 20 boys, so there's no guarantee that even if I hadn't had that injury that I would have gone all the way - but I've got a lot of friends who have gone on to play professionally."The disappointed hopeful ended up bowing out - but as one door closed, another one opened.The time that his absence from sport freed up allowed him to channel his energies into his other main passion - music."I have always loved and always been involved in music.