Newly-capped England international Ted Hill is hoping his maiden international appearance was the first of many after inking a first professional deal with Worcester Warriors.
Initially called up to the Red Rose’s autumn squad as an apprentice, a late injury re-shuffle saw him named on the bench for their third clash of the autumn against Japan.
The 19-year-old then appeared off the bench in the second half and his club side Worcester have moved quickly to tie him down.
“This is my home club,” said Hill. “So I am delighted to have signed a first-team contract. We have a very exciting journey ahead of us and I am really excited to be part of that.
“I have worked with some exceptional people during my time at the club and I have enjoyed being out there on the pitch this season.
“The club have helped me become an England international. It was a massive honour to be invited into the training camps. And it was like the cherry on the top to play against Japan.
“Surreal is the word. Standing there for the anthem, looking out and seeing the family was a crazy moment. An amazing experience.
“It was daunting meeting all those guys who you’ve only seen on TV before.
“Eddie Jones said to me to just go back to Warriors and keep carrying well and keep tackling well. The main bit of advice was to go back and play like an England player.
“There is definitely a calmness going into games now and that comes from being around the best in the country. That’s the natural thing to happen.
“It doesn’t take away from the fact that the Premiership is a brutal league so you can’t be too relaxed otherwise people will snap you out of it.”
It has been a week of good news at Sixways with highly-rated young centre Ollie Lawrence also inking terms.
Lawrence appeared for England in this year’s Under-20s Six Nations and trained with the senior squad ahead of their summer tour to South Africa.
Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons said: “Ollie is a very talented young player, who has made tremendous progress this year with some outstanding performances, especially during the European Challenge Cup match against Stade Français in Paris.
“He is benefitting from playing with international-class centres and it is only a matter of time before he pulls on the England jersey.”
