2020 Chris Hill Testimonial Brochure

It was a proud first season as a Wire for me; winning
the Challenge Cup final, losing the Grand
Final but being the starting prop in all three end
of year internationals was a dream come true
– I’d turned 25 and I was living my best life!
My International career began pretty quickly after
signing for Warrington.
Steve McNamara, the England coach, rang me
and asked to join the senior squad for the Autumn
International
Series.
I was playing in the 9’s when Steve
McNamara asked me to play in the first team,
against Wales and France - a couple of the lads
had gone out injured. I ended up rooming with Gaz
Ellis – surreal, as I’d followed Gaz’s career and now I
was waking up and having breakfast with him!
(who were put into a room alone) and questioned
as to why she was travelling alone with children.
In New Zealand, against Tonga, I
experienced the best game I’d ever played in. The
atmosphere was electric and the crowd was
deafening for the full 80 minutes. Afterwards, the
Tongans congratulated England and then went
out partying and setting fireworks off in the street.
They know how to party!
The game the week after was disappointing
but I had the best game of my career.
The World Cup Final Defeat at the hands of
Australia.
This bloke was a legend of rugby league and someone
I looked up to massively. He played in the NRL for a
number of years, was probably on mega money, and
there was me, probably on a 20% of what he was
earning, sharing a room with him!
I made my debut at Racecourse Park in Wales.
I had a good relationship with Steve and from
then was never out of the team.
During the Tri-Nations in Australia, we needed
Samoa to win by less than 4 points. We knew it
would be Australia v New Zealand in the Final, so we
call went out for a few drinks (never expecting to be
in the Final). We were all called back in by Steve, just
in case Samoa pulled it out of the bag. We watched
on TV and Samoa didn’t – the team drip-fed out and
ended up in the bar again!
The World Cup stands out for me. Warrington weren’t
brilliant in 2017 – even though we’d had easy games
at the end of the season, we finished in the middle 8s.
Usually, players are tired after the long season,
so going to the World Cup fresh was a bonus, it
was the best I have ever felt and I performed well.
I had the best 7 weeks on that tour.
Wayne Bennett is brilliant at running camps. He provided
a masterclass in basic running rugby – 80s style.
He knew what the lads needed and didn’t mind if they
went for a drink the night before games. He didn’t want
anyone that hadn’t been picked, moping about, so we
all trained together, then all went out after the game.
It really was the most enjoyable 7 weeks.
While I was over in Australia, Kathryn (heavily
pregnant) decided that she and the kids would
come over. I told her to check with the doctor
before booking, just to make sure it would be ok.
Both her mum and dad and my mum and dad were
out there already, so she would be on her own. My
mum and dad offered to fly home after the Quarter
finals to travel back with her, but she flew over
before they got chance to change their flights.
The flight over wasn’t without stress – at Dubai
Airport, she was taken away from the children
I won a few things with England, and playing New
Zealand at Anfield was a highlight, but sadly, didn’t
win the big one.
I always tell people not to take going on tour for
granted. I know we all miss our families, but it is an
unbelievable experience. Being with each other 24
hours a day, in each other’s pockets forges a bond
that can’t be broken.
I’m still part of the ‘Friends for Life’ Whatsapp group
from my touring days.
They are memories I’ll take with me forever.
Great Britain didn’t win a game, but it was
unbelievable. That was what I’d always
wanted to do – to pull on that shirt was the
pinnacle for me and my family. If I never play for
Great Britain again, I’ve achieved what I wanted to.