Hill
Richard Hill was a giant for Saracens and England.
Richard Hill Bio
Richard Hill is a former flanker who was a stalwart for Saracens and England. The highlight of his rugby-playing career undoubtedly came in 2003, when he lifted the Rugby World Cup.
Known as the ‘silent assassin’, Richard Hill was renowned for his abrasive style of play. Throughout his career, he prided himself on delivering big hits and sapping the energy of his opponents. His well-rounded performances at flanker were probably best shown at Saracens, where he made 275 appearances between 1993 and 2008.
However, some of Richard Hill’s greatest appearances came for England, where he formed a formidable partnership with Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back. In fact, by 2003, Richard Hill had become so integral to the England side that he was named in England’s Rugby World Cup squad despite being unfit. In fact, he wasn’t declared match fit until the semi-final stage of the tournament. That said, he helped England easily defeat the French in the semi-final and then played a vital role in the final, where England edged past Australia to capture the trophy.
During his distinguished international career, Richard Hill was also named in three British and Irish Lions squads (1997, 2001 and 2005).
Sadly, Richard Hill was forced to retire from rugby in 2008. During the course of his career, his hard tackles and energy-sapping support play had seen him pick up several injuries and, by the end of his career, he was playing with a permanent limp.
Since retiring from rugby, Richard Hill has held a number of coaching positions within the game. As well as working as a coach and mentor, he also works as a speaker, consultant and brand ambassador.
