Promising Hull FC back Cameron Scott won’t let diabetes hold him back

Now aged 20 and with England international Jake Connor, Player of the Year Josh Griffin plus overseas stars Carlos Tuimavave and Mahe Fonua in front of him at the Airlie Birds, he is on a season-long loan with Championship Leigh Centurions.

Scott, who captained England Academy to a series win over Australia Schoolboys in 2018, says he never had any issues with being told he would need to inject insulin on a daily basis.

“Instead of rolling over and letting it take control, I just took over it,” he said.

“It was one of those things where I knew I was going to have it for the rest of my life so it was just a matter of getting on with it.

“I’ve never really had any problems with my diabetes – sometimes it’s like it’s not even there and that’s just the way I like it. I test my blood sugar levels before a match and at half-time but have never had a hypo or anything like that during a game.

“It’s always been fine.”

There are few diabetics currently in the professional game although, ironically, Doncaster boss Richard Horne – who coached Scott both at Hull and during loan spells with the South Yorkshire club – is someone who has the condition.

Scott, who joined Hull when hometown Bradford Bulls went into liquidation just over two years ago, said: “I did talk to Horney about it and how he dealt with it but everyone is different.

“Some things that work for him didn’t work for me and vice versa so it’s finding that middle ground. I inject myself so I don’t have an insulin pump; I tried to go with anything that isn’t attached so I don’t have a blood testing sensor on my arm either.

“I know it’d be easier getting reading that way and things like that but playing and training with it would mean the chance of it being pulled off are higher.”

Scott had been playing wing for Leigh before Covid-19 halted the season, scoring four tries in four games during their unbeaten start.

He said: “I’d been enjoying it and I am now looking forward to getting going again.”

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