Hill keen for a new adventure Stateside
Bored with the Premiership rugby landscape, former Exeter and Sale Sharks centre Sam Hill is hoping for a fresh challenge abroad.
Hill has only just turned 30 and reckons he has a couple more years left in him, but the powerful centre has yet to find another club after his contract at the Sharks ran out at the end of last month.
As a single bloke with no ties, America is his preferred destination and he is currently exploring the possibility of a contract in Major League Rugby (MLR) as well as looking at other options.
But Hill is philosophical about the position he finds himself in and has other plans if no one comes calling.
“There has been a bit of chat in American but far from anything concrete,” he confirmed.
“If I could live abroad for a couple of years, I would be pretty keen on doing that, whether that is in rugby or personal training or in other lines of work, I don't know.
“I am still hoping for rugby but obviously it is a tough old market right now so I am not holding my breath.
“I know I have got a few more years in me, if I had to move away from it, then I wouldn't be completely gutted because I feel like I was definitely more passionate about it a few years ago.”
Hill has been playing professional rugby for the best part of 12 years and has made over 200 firstclass appearances despite some lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.
The former England U20 international was fit for most of last season but only played a bit-part in the Sharks' run to the Premiership final.
Now he finds himself on a highly competitive job market, one populated with players from fallen clubs, Worcester, Wasps and London Irish, and at a crossroads in his life.
“There are a lot of really good players who still don't have anything. If they are getting offered bad contracts, boys are kind of at the age where it's not worth it because it is very physical and taxing on your body. That's my personal opinion,” he said.
“Don't get me wrong I still enjoy it and there are a lot of perks to it but there are a lot of downsides too, and I have been playing for so long now I don't have the same passion that I used to have.
“When I am training every day it can be a bit monotonous but maybe when you are in your early 20s it is all exciting.”
Hill feels that the Premiership has regressed as a competition and hopes that by moving overseas his enthusiasm for the game would be reignited.
“I just think since Covid it has gone a bit boring; to be honest I don't think there is the same passion for it,” he added. “When I have played at different grounds the last couple of years the atmosphere is not what it used to be.
“I went to Chiefs and watched the Sale game and it felt absolutely flat, and it was a close game, but the crowd was dead. It has felt like that at a few stadiums this year.
“Back before Covid those games would have been rocking, the atmosphere would have been crazy.”
Hill also feels the absence of promotion and relegation has played a part. “That definitely makes it a bit less exciting,” he said. “Once the bottom teams know they can't win but also know they are safe, what is the motivation there?”
