Hill: Retiring

It's very flattering to get the attention I've received in the past few weeks and read some of the nice things that are being said, but I'm very clear and will emphasise that this weekend is not about me or the other players and management who are moving on at the end of the season.

Richard Hill
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Richard Hill has played down the fact Saturday's match will be his last before retirement by insisting he is more concerned about getting the right result for Saracens.

The World Cup-winning flanker brings down the curtain on his career against Bristol having made 288 appearances for the club.

Two serious knee injuries have finally taken their toll on Hill, with the popular forward left with a limp.

And although Saracens will look to celebrate the final match of his long and distinguished career, the unassuming Hill is happy to stay in the background.

"From a team perspective, it's important to end on a positive note after what has been a very up and down period," said Hill.

"It's very flattering to get the attention I've received in the past few weeks and read some of the nice things that are being said, but I'm very clear and will emphasise that this weekend is not about me or the other players and management who are moving on at the end of the season.

"It's is about the team and nothing will give me greater satisfaction than getting a good result."

Hill has been denied the chance to bow out at Vicarage Road after the game was switched to Vicarage Road because of Watford's commitments in the Championship play-offs.

Disappointing

And although disappointed at the switch, Hill just wants to share the occasion with his friends and family.

"It's a bit disappointing that Watford FC weren't able to conjure up any one of another 20 positions in the league, but Milton Keynes looks like a great venue and hopefully we'll have a lot of Saracens fans at the ground, as well as attract a good crowd from the local area and put on a good display of rugby," said Hill.

"It's not the venue where I would have expected to complete my playing days and Stadium MK will be my fourth 'home' ground as a Saracen - for a week at least.

"I started out at Bramley Road, then moved to Vicarage Road, and now I'll be finishing up on the M1 at Milton Keynes. But wherever the venue, I will be sharing the day with my team-mates, friends, family and the Saracens fans and that's how I want it."

The quirkiness of the fixture list has meant that Hill's final fixture sees his go up against the 'other' Richard Hill - Bristol's coach.

And Hill reveals he could have been playing for Bristol if he hadn't opted to move to Brunel University in west London after playing for Salisbury.

"I did actually turn out for Bristol a couple of times in what was effectively a regional select XV at the time with the likes of Darren Crompton and Mark Regan while I was at Salisbury," explained Hill.

"If things had turned out differently in terms of my further education, there is no doubt I could have been playing out my career in the west country.

"It's somewhat ironic that my last game will come against the other Richard Hill. We've been mistaken quite a lot through the years.

"There have been many occasions when his picture was used with a story about me and vice versa. There were also some misdirected cheques from the RFU and I can tell you that at A-team level a few years ago, the players were being paid more than the coaches!"