Relegation threatens but Hill remains optimistic

THE Championship resumes next weekend and Richmond travel to face leaders London Irish knowing they need a few more wins to guarantee safety.

Director of rugby Steve Hill has constructed a squad that is holding its own in the second tier despite being part-timers, but have won just three league games this season.

Last season’s ninth-place finish was decent reward for their effort, escaping the clutches of the relegation battle which sucked Rotherham down to National One.

Currently 10th, a point behind Doncaster but only five ahead of bottom-placed Hartpury with Yorkshire Carnegie in between, Hill says his team are not thinking about relegation and want to go even better than last season.

“At the start of the season the consensus from the players was that we should to try and improve on last year’s ninth spot,” Hill told TRP. “I’m happy to go along with that still.”

Hill believes the Richmond’s ‘one club’ ethos and environment will stand it in good stead in the coming months.

“I’m wedded to the idea of playing for your mates and the ‘one club’ rather than ‘one team’ ethos,” he said. “Players need to come to training with smiles on their faces and the second team are pushing hard at the moment.”

One of the smaller squads in the Championship, player recruitment was light during the summer but Hill believes this to be a plus rather than a minus.

He explained: “We’ve a stable squad and the players we brought in have all added something which has enabled us to play more expansively whereas when you have a big influx of players you’re effectively starting afresh.

“I have had to tell players to leave in the past who didn’t adapt.”

While a relegation battle looms, Hill is building strong foundations and holds great store by the club’s egalitarian values. “The culture at the club is a very healthy one. The first team squad of 22 all get the same match fee and win bonus so discussions about money barely arises.”