Ted Hill agrees new Worcester contract

Colin Newboult

Ted Hill, one of the brightest back-row talents in English rugby, has committed his future to the Warriors until the end of the 2021/22 season.

Hill, 20, has signed a two-year extension to his existing contract which expires at the end of the current campaign.

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 flanker as a pivotal figure in the future success of the 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 homegrown 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 Warriors academy and only two months after he had scored two tries on his Warriors debut in a dramatic Premiership win over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

“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.

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 homegrown 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.”