2020 Chris Hill Testimonial Brochure

THE LONG ROAD TO SUCCESS
By Chris’s Father, Dave
It is with great pleasure and pride
that we have been asked, as
parents, to talk about Chris’s
Rugby career.
It all began at the tender age
of 5, with me his mum dropping
him off for his first training
session with St Patricks under 6s,
even though Chris was only 5.
We only realised I had taken
him to the wrong age group,
during his first game, and by that
time it was too late to do anything.
Chris played on the wing that first
game and scored a full length try
(well that’s how we remember it).
The family spent every weekend,
including Grandma, on a field
in all weather, splitting our time
between watching Chris and
his older brother Marc, both
who played for the Deanery High
School during the week and their
individual Sunday league teams.
Due to Chris playing above his
age group, it meant that he played
for Wigan Town teams twice at
under 11s, and two years running at
under 13s.
He represented the then newly
formed Wigan and Leigh Town
team at under 15s in a season
in which they won every game.
Chris always wanted to play
rugby. He was very driven and
passionate about the game,
having coaches who were
inspirational along the way.
Academically, Chris worked hard
at school but it always came
second to Rugby, it became his
whole focus. I came from Bury
so had never seen a Rugby ball.
His Dad a “pie eater” played,
but never pursued it as a career
finding women and drink more
interesting!
He played a year above his age
group until he was 13, when
during that season, he became
ill with a viral infection that affected
his joints and prevented him from
playing sport for over 3 months.
His determination to recover was
second to none and he soon
regained his level of fitness and
determination to be the best he
could.
During this time he decided a
change of team would help progress
his development, so a drop
down to his own age group and
a move to New Springs Lions
was the best option. The team
camaraderie at New Springs was
excellent and Chris’s ball handling
skills improved immensely,
resulting in a position change
to stand off. This team made it
through to the club’s first cup final
in 2003, against a very good St
Patrick’s team. Unfortunately they
lost that game but the achievement
toreach the final and put in such a
great effort was a credit to each and
every player.
During this time, Chris had moved
from Wigan scholarship to Leigh
favouring the more personalised
coaching methods. Turning 16
he signed for Leigh academy and
the journey took on a new level.
After playing 2 seasons in
the academy, he signed a 2
year deal with Leigh, and played
his first Super league game
against St Helens, in the final
game of the 2005 season - coming
off the bench to gain a taste of top
level rugby. 7 seasons at
Championship level proved
an invaluable apprenticeship
for Chris, that would stand him
in good shape for what was later
to become a meteoric rise in the
game.
During his second season in the
first team, Chris was selected to
represent the under 18s England
academy, with the first game to be
played in France. Unfortunately,
this was only one of a hand full
of games his Dad has missed
throughout his career, something
Chris never lets him forget!!!
Chris worked part-time in a gym
during his time at Leigh,combining
a diploma in sports science to
supplement his income. During this
time, Chris never gave up on his
dreams of playing Superleague
rugby, and as parents we always
believed he was destined to play
top level rugby.
His commitment to Leigh never
wavered - seeing them win the
Northern Rail Cup on two
occasions, the latter final in 2011
against Halifax seeing Chris score
a second half try to bring the
Centurions back into the game.