RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam winner Richard Hill has been appointed England Rugby Team Manager by head coach Eddie Jones.
RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam winner Richard Hill has been appointed England Rugby Team Manager by head coach Eddie Jones.
The 2003 World Cup winner will begin his new role on Monday as England’s players gather together for a three-day training camp in Brighton.
Hill, who enjoyed a 15-year playing career with Saracens, has been a national member of the RFU council since 2008, but will step down from those duties in order to take up his new position.
His new responsibilities will include maintaining England Rugby’s internal and external relationships, as well as providing mentoring and support for players and management.
And the three-time British & Irish Lions tourist cannot wait to get started.
“It is a great honour to take up this position with the national team,” said Hill.
“These are exciting times for English rugby and I look forward to supporting the team and management in our journey to the World Cup in 2019.”
Since retiring in 2008, Hill has worked for both his former club and the RFU including, in 2014, holding the position of RFU player pathway liaison manager, in which he helped England’s international performance coaches identify, mentor and develop young players.
And his new role will see him link up with Jones for a second time, after the Australian’s time as Saracens’director of rugby.
“Richard is an icon of English rugby and I am very pleased he has agreed to join the England management team. His vast international experience and in-depth knowledge of the RFU player pathway means he’s a great fit for this role in the England set-up,” said Jones.
“It is important we use the knowledge of former international players and keep an historical link with the past. I am in no doubt that Richard will excel in his role and I look forward to working with him again as we continue our preparation for the Old Mutual Wealth Series later this year.”
