England Under 20s

Sam Hill

Key Facts

Squad	Exeter Chiefs
Position	Centre
Age	19
Height	1.84m (6'0")
Weight	99kg (15st 8lb)
Caps	U20: 13

A graduate of the Exeter Chiefs Academy, Sam Hill played in eight games for England U20 last year. He had also been a regular choice for England U18, dating back to his try-scoring debut against the Namibia Invitation XV at East London in 2010.

His final U18 matches were against Ireland in the FIRA/AER Championship final at Stade Maurice Trélut, Tarbes in April 2011 and in the three tour games the following August, climaxed by his try in the 46-19 win over Australia at Ignatius College, Sydney.

He scored another in his first match for England U20 in the 40-9 triumph over Wales at Twickenham Stoop in February last year, also crossed the Italy line eight days later and played in the next game against France before becoming a member of England’s IRB Junior World Championship squad in South Africa. His fourth try at that level was in the 52-7 victory over Italy at Northampton in March this year when he started every match along the way to his side’s RBS 6 Nations title win.

Sam, who has been on loan to Championship club Cornish Pirates for the past two seasons. has taken a BTEC in Sport at Ivybridge College near Plymouth. He previously attended Cheriton Bishop Primary School, near Exeter and Queen Elizabeth Community College in Crediton where he first played for the local club at the age of nine. He became their junior player of the year when he was 15.

Rooney Matthews and Chris Lee were his mentors there, followed by Rob Gibson, head coach at Ivybridge and the club’s backs coach Malcolm Collins. Ricky Pellow and Ali Hepher now mentor him at Sandy Park, Exeter, his favourite ground. He represented Devon and England U16 and his best memory is helping the U18 side to beat Wales with the last play of the game. His Chiefs’ debut was in the LV=Cup against London Wasps last year.

Exeter-born Sam began playing on the wing, moved to fly half and then to centre, his longer term position where he started for England U18 in the winter and spring of 2011 against Scotland, Wales and twice against Ireland and on the subsequent tour to Australia.

His interests include surfing, cycling and most outdoor sports and his most admired players are New Zealand centres Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams and Brian O’Driscoll, of Ireland.