What more does Ted Hill have to do to get a look in for England?

In a country historically obsessed with back-row depth, it’s staggering that Ted Hill, a Premiership winner, club captain at just 21, and one of the most destructive forwards in the English game, remains on the outside looking in under Steve Borthwick.

At 26, Hill is no longer just a promising talent. He’s a hardened, high-performance Premiership forward, integral to Bath’s resurgence and their remarkable treble-winning team. He brings size, power, mobility, and a tireless engine — the exact sort of profile England spent time trying to replace when Courtney Lawes stepped away from the international game in 2023.

During England's recent Americas tour, Hill earned just 15 minutes off the bench against USA - a return that regular Premiership viewers find baffling.

A Proven Premiership Force

Let’s look at the evidence.

Hill started his career as a freakish teenager at Worcester, playing England U20s and scoring tries and breaking lines for fun. He was handed the Warriors captaincy at the youthful age of 21 but it proved a responsibility he took in his stride.

Then came the collapse of Worcester and the subsequent administration. Amid the chaos, Bath moved quickly and shrewdly. Hill, alongside his former Warriors teammate Ollie Lawrence, took no time in adjusting to life in the south west as a lethal combination of deceptive pace, offloading skill, and defensive presence added dynamism to a pack crying out for bite after meandering down the bottom of the Premiership.

At 6ft 5inch and 112kgs, Hill can play across the back row and even at lock. He runs like a centre, is a tackle machine, and has an ever-growing strong leadership CV.

He quickly became Bath’s top carrier, frequently among their top tacklers, and was instrumental in ending their Premiership title hiatus. He delivers on the biggest stage in the Premiership; therefore, no one can say he's not raw, untested or hasn't earned more of a shot than his five caps.

So What’s the Hold-Up?

Is it the crowded back-row picture? Sure, England are blessed with options. Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Chandler Cunningham-South, Guy Pepper, Tom Pearson, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry and Alex Dombrandt are all jostling for shirts. But are they all ahead of Hill?

Is it versatility? If anything, Hill’s ability to cover 6, 7, and 8 — and do so effectively — should make him more attractive. He’s a natural fit for a 6/8 hybrid, capable of lineout lifting, ball-carrying, and linking play — exactly the skillset Borthwick usually likes.

Could it be style? Borthwick has historically favoured tight, system-led forwards over game-breakers. But England are crying out for gain-line threats, especially ones who don’t compromise the defensive system. Hill checks both boxes.

Borthwick Needs to Be Brave

Borthwick’s recent squads suggest he’s building for 2027 — which makes Hill’s absence even more puzzling. He’s young, experienced, physically ideal, and increasingly playing the best rugby of his life.

This is not a call to tear down what England are building. British & Irish Lions call-ups Earl and Curry deserve to stay. While, no one can deny the physical attributes Cunningham-South has been blessed with. But in the name of both form and fairness, Hill deserves a shot. A proper one — not a three-day camp or a non-cap fixture against France XV.

A chance to show he belongs, let's see him rip into the Autumn against Japan, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Over to you, Steve.