‘It seems crazy I’ve played for England’
TED HILL must feel like he is living in a spin dryer. To say the Worcester teenager’s world is turning quickly is the ultimate understatement.
This time last year he was on loan at National Two side Luctonians – he is still officially part of the Worcester academy – yet he steps out against Gloucester in only his third Premiership match today as a fully-fledged England international.
Did Eddie Jones really pick him on the England bench against Japan and then send him on for the last five minutes at Twickenham in front of 80,000 people a fortnight ago, or was it a dream? Even he does not sound too sure. He has the painful memory of singing The Day I Died by Just Jack on the team bus as his mandatory debutant’s song and the supporting evidence of a red-tassled cap and two England shirts, one of which
he plans to give to his former club Malvern, where he helps coach the colts. But even so there is a pinch-myself quality to the whole experience.
“It seems crazy,” he says. “It was a complete shock. At the start of the season I was looking to play A League and maybe push to get on to the Worcester bench for Premiership games.
“It definitely has been a whirlwind autumn, a bit mad really. It seemed surreal to be singing the anthem before the start of the Japan game and then to run on to the field. They were incredible moments.”
Hill was initially selected as one of Jones’ apprentices but the 19-year-old flanker took to the international environment like a hippo to mud at England’s pre-Test training camp in Portugal. “It was nerve-wracking going out there but they all made me feel welcome and helped me pick stuff up quickly,” he said.
Hill was playing at Malvern when Worcester academy manager Chim Gale first spotted him at a Worcestershire county trial as a 13-year-old.
“He was an imposing figure at that age,” said Gale. “But in terms of his rugby ability, it was not apparent he would necessarily be a lot better than others. What really set him apart was his work ethic and his willingness to learn.
“He wanted to join up the dots and really understand the wider game. That accelerated his development and it hasn’t slowed down.”
The fun bus rolls on. A fortnight on from Twickenham, Hill has Danny Cipriani in his sights at Gloucester today as Worcester, the surprise package of the season, seek another upset. “All these guys I’ve only seen on TV, it’s strange to think I’m playing against them,” said Hill. “But it’s exciting.
“Eddie Jones said to go back to Warriors and keep carrying well and tackling well. The main bit of advice was to go back and play like an England player.
“Everyone at the club is pushing to show we’re not meant to be at the bottom, we are meant to be a top-six club. We’ve shown what we can do.” ❑ EXETER suffered their first Premiership defeat of the season last night, losing 28-26 at Harlequins. Nathan Earle scored two of Quins’ four tries against the leaders.