Under the radar: how Richard Hill is key to England’s next generation

The World Cup-winning flanker keeps a low profile but is one of Steve Borthwick’s most important lieutenants

During his playing days, the World Cup-winning flanker Richard Hill always kept a low profile and in his current role as England team manager, talent spotter and one of Steve Borthwick’s key lieutenants, it seems that little has changed.

Just ask England’s newest back-row Chandler Cunningham-South, who only recently learned that the 50-year-old who had been giving him a few tips for the last couple of years, who “sounds like he knows what he’s talking about”, was speaking from considerable experience. “He found out that I played in the World Cup, probably three months ago,” says Hill. “Chandler’s not that fussed about what’s gone on in the past. He wanted to know why I didn’t tell him. I said it had no bearing on what we’re trying to achieve, which was about him, not me.”