Richard Anthony Hill (born 23 May 1973) is a former rugby union footballer who played as a flanker for Saracens and England. Often portrayed as the 'silent assassin' at both club and international level, Hill was renowned for his effective and abrasive style of forward play. Big hits, shrewd driving and energy-sapping support play, were features of his exceptionally well-rounded game which made him one of the most highly rated flankers of his era. He has a namesake, Richard John Hill, who played for England at scrum half between 1984 and 1992. Early life He was born on 23 May 1973 in Dormansland, Surrey. On his mother's side, Hill is a second cousin removed of film director Peter Jackson (Richard Hill's maternal grandmother and Peter Jackson's mother are first cousins both by father's side). His nephew is left back, Ben Purrington. Hill attended Bishop Wordsworth's Grammar School in Salisbury, and gained early prominence as a schools international. It is coincidental that his namesake, who coaches Bristol, had also attended the same school and both played for Salisbury Rugby Club. Hill graduated from the West London Institute of Higher Education in Sports Science and Geography, in 1995. He also won the IB Mac prize in recognition of his combined academic and athletic achievements. On 16 July 2002, Brunel University conferred upon Hill the honorary degree of Master of the University. Playing career Early years He made his first Saracens appearance in 1993. Hill made his England debut in the 1997 Five Nations Championship against Scotland, playing at openside flanker. He was selected ahead of Neil Back, who was controversially ignored by the England team for that period. He toured South Africa with the British Lions in the summer of 1997, gaining two caps. He missed Saracens’ Tetley's Bitter Cup victory in 1998 with a back injury. Under new coach Clive Woodward, Hill was initially selected at openside, but was moved to blindside flanker to accommodate Neil Back on the openside flank, Lawrence Dallaglio moving from blindside to number eight. It was in this position, with this Hill, Back, Dallaglio combination of players, that Hill gained most of his caps. 2003 Rugby World Cup Although Hill had been named in England's 2003 Rugby World Cup squad, his place appeared in jeopardy after he suffered a hamstring strain on the eve of the tournament. Coach Clive Woodward decided that it was worth the