Worcester Warriors snap up promising youngster
TRANSFER NEWS: Ted Hill, regarded as one of the brightest back row talents in English rugby has committed his future to Worcester Warriors until the end of the 2021/22 season.
Hill, 20-year-old, has signed a two-year extension to his existing contract which expires at the end of the current season.
His decision to remain at Sixways is a major coup for Director of Rugby Alan Solomons and co-owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham, who regard the England blindside flank as a pivotal figure in the future success of the Gallagher Premiership club.
“It is absolutely brilliant news that Ted has committed to the club,” Solomons said.
“He is a huge talent and is recognised as one of the outstanding young players in England. Ted has already this season cemented his place in our starting XV and it is but a matter of time before he regularly features in the England team.
“Over and above his exceptional ability as a player he is a fantastic bloke and a great team man, who, I believe, will develop into an outstanding leader.
“To see a home-grown player of Ted’s calibre decide his future lies with the club is a massive statement and ties in perfectly with our vision to develop Warriors through the medium of our young Worcester players. I am really looking forward to continue working with Ted, who, I believe, has a huge role to play in the future of the club.”
Hill was capped by England as a replacement against Japan 12 months ago while he was still a member of the Three Pears Warriors Academy and only two months after he had scored two tries on his Warriors debut in a dramatic Gallagher Premiership win over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.
Hill played his formative club rugby for Malvern where his father Vince, a Middlesex county player, was captain. He joined the Warriors Junior Academy at the age of 14 and played alongside his older brother Max for Worcester Sixth Form College, which was then Warriors’ AASE League team.
“Ted is an exceptional player by every standard and, as a young man, fully represents the values of this club and this sport,” said Goldring and Whittingham.
“ We have no doubts that he will go on to become one of the most formidable players of his generation and, in doing so, will also be a part of taking Worcester Warriors to new levels of excellence and achievement.
“As owners we share the vision of Alan Solomons. That vision is to build Warriors with a core of Worcestermen at its heart.
“The re-signing of Ted Hill is one that we couldn’t be more proud of and is a statement of our intent in showing that, not only are we able to retain the high quality of players that come through our excellent Academy, but also that those players share our vision and want to stay and play at this club.”
Hill, who signed his first professional contract in December last year, is delighted to have committed his future to Warriors.
“Speaking to the owners and to Alan their vision matches up with each other. They have a plan of where they want to be and where they want to go. We are not there yet but we are definitely on the way,” Hill said.
“It’s a really exciting time to be at the club. We have a good Academy and it’s about developing home-grown players. It’s important to keep those guys signed up and to keep growing the club through our youth set-up.
“I’m honoured that the club have seen me as a key part of that and I am really pleased to be a part of it. But it’s not all about me, there is a lot of good young talent coming through and it’s about keeping those players and harnessing their abilities.”
