European Rugby Cup : Sarries say goodbye to Hill

The "Silent Assassin" Richard Hill

Sarries say goodbye to Hill

7 May 2008, 6:10 pm

Saracens legend Richard Hill will play his last professional rugby match this weekend against old time adversaries Harlequins.

Since making his Saracens debut in 1993, Hill has been a one club man and a true servant of the team.

But in the past two years, previous battles took their toll on the aging warrior and a succession of injuries limited his first team opportunities.

This season, after recovery from a persistent knee ligament injury, Hill has played a big part of Sarries push for European silverware and was rewarded with the Man of the Match trophy for an outstanding display in the Heineken Cup quarter-final win over the Ospreys.

According to Saracens head coach Alan Gaffney, Hill is the “Silent Assassin” because of his style of play, and is one of the great players of the modern area.

The former England number 8 is the one of the only players who participated in all games when Clive Woodward was the manager.
A World Cup win in 2003, seventy one caps and twelve tries scored with England, nearly 300 appearances with Saracens, three Lions Tours, Hill is firmly established himself as an all-time great.

Alongside Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back he formed a famous back row line that was so significant in the cup winning campaign of five years ago.

His former captain Martin Johnson said: “A world class performance from Richard Hill for Saracens, England and the British & Irish Lions was a given. He toured with the Lions in 1997 and made a huge impact and played for England at 6, 7 and 8, which underlined what an important part of the squad he was. Richard is a fantastic player and a great bloke and one of the most consistent world class players I ever played with.”

Saracens are currently 7th in the Guinness Premiership and will play in the European Challenge Cup next season after being moments away from a dramatic win over Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final but missing out to the experienced Irishmen.