Grace pulled up unchallenged, in the final minute of Saints’ defeat to Salford on Sunday and scans have unfortunately revealed the worst.

He will now undergo surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles before he moves to French Rugby Union side, Racing 92 at the end of the season.

Head coach Kristian Woolf confirmed the news: “Regan has unfortunately ruptured his Achilles and it is a devastating blow for him and for us as a team and a Club as well.

“Regan has come through our Academy and has been a big part of our club and team for a long time. He is a really valued player and person who has been a big part of our success over the last couple of years.

“He has had a really tough year injury wise, through no fault of his own, going from a bicep injury to a hamstring injury, into now a season ending Achilles injury.

“The fact that he’s not going to be here next year adds to the feeling and it is sad that this is the way that his Saints career at the moment has finished.

“We all really feel for him and know that he is well supported there by his partner Nina and obviously his family. But it is a real shame and a really sad way to see him finish.

“He will undergo surgery in the next few days and that is something the Club will try and do as soon as possible for him. One thing this Club does really well is support the players in that way but also off the field.

“He’ll get all the support he needs from the Club and his from his teammates. We will make sure that when he leaves at the end of the year to go to his next club, that we put him in the best position we can because we want him to be successful there as well.”

And, Woolf has spoken to the St Helens Star about him potentially returning to the club after his stint in rugby union.

“He is our responsibility and he is a very valued person within the group,” Woolf told the paper.

“We understand that he has other opportunities next year but he’s certainly a bloke that in time that we’d love to see back at the club.

“He has been a big part of the club – and the club has been a big part of him so it would be hopeful that at some stage there might be that opportunity as well.”

Grace has only signed a one-year deal with French side Racing 92, potentially paving the way for a move back to Super League, though he will of course be inundated with offers given his status.