Hill backing namesake

14 April 2012

Richard Hill's claim to become Martin Johnson's successor has received a timely boost ... from a former England rugby captain called Richard Hill!

The Saracens flanker shares more than just a name with the man who played scrum-half for England in the 1991 World Cup Final. Though 12 years apart in age, they went to the same school and played for the same club as young amateurs.

Hill senior coached young Richard when he was in an Emerging England Players squad alongside Lawrence Dallaglio, and he is very friendly with his namesake's parents. Both Hills attended Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury, and also played much of their early rugby with the Wiltshire town's club.

Now, although London Wasps captain Dallaglio is the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Johnson as England captain, both Hill and Gloucester prop Phil Vickery are finding clear support from within the game.

Clive Woodward is not expected to name Johnson's successor until next week. This week the England head coach and his deputy, Andy Robinson, are in New Zealand for a series of post-World Cup meetings organised by the International Rugby Board.

Hill, the former Bath scrum-half who now coaches Bristol Shoguns, agrees that Woodward has a clutch of excellent candidates to choose from.

However, he favours either Hill or Vickery and said: " Whoever becomes England captain now must be, in my opinion, a total team man like Johno.

"The job has such a high profile these days - much more so than when I was captain back in the late 1980s - but I think that the way Johnson did the job has laid down the major criteria for Clive. Whoever he picks must be a team man first and foremost.

"He must not see the job as something which can also be used for personal gain. The successful candidate must be extremely dedicated to the team, and must be prepared to do everything it takes to keep England winning.

"Richard Hill is a very worthy contender, in this respect. He is extremely popular, but has the total respect of all his team-mates. He is very eloquent, and very intelligent, and like Johnson would also have the advantage of being an automatic choice for the England team.

"I'm not in the position, like Clive is, to know how Richard would interact with the rest of the players if he did get the job, but if I had him at Bristol with me at the moment he'd certainly be my captain.

"I know Richard reasonably well, mainly because I know his parents and also because we have met up on a few occasions at Salisbury Rugby Club functions.

"I also worked closely with Vickery, however, when I was coach at Gloucester for three and a half years, and I also think he would do an excellent job.

"Clive is a bit spoiled for choice, to be honest, with other guys like Lawrence, Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Dawson around. It will be fascinating to see which way he goes."

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Lawrence Dallaglio

London Wasps

Phil Vickery

Hill backing namesake

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