Jonny Hill

British and Irish Lions and England lock Jonny Hill signed a long-term contract to join Sale Sharks from Exeter ahead of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season. The towering forward, who stands at 6ft7ins, joined the Chiefs from Gloucester in 2015 having made two first team appearances for the Cherry and Whites. Hill quickly settled into his new surroundings at Sandy Park and made his first team debut in January 2016, coming off the bench against his former club.

He established himself as one of the most dynamic second rows in the league at Exeter Chiefs, scoring an impressive 32 tries in his 116 appearances for the club. During his time on the south coast, Jonny helped the Chiefs to double success in the 2019/20 season, and his form was rewarded with a first test cap for England in the delayed 2020 Six Nations Championship.  He impressed on debut for Eddie Jones' side and added to his tally of caps during the subsequent Autumn Nations Cup.

Hill scored his first international try against Italy in the 2021 Six Nations, and in May that year, was named by British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland for the summer tour to South Africa alongside Tom Curry. He was an ever present during the 2021 Autumn International series, when he featured alongside Sharks teammates Bevan Rodd, Tom Curry, Raffi Quirke and Manu Tuilagi. After securing Jonny’s signing, Sharks DoR Alex Sanderson said: “He’s a player who knows how to win and what it takes to grind out those big games and that sort of experience is invaluable. “His on-field qualities speak for themselves but what sets him apart for me is that he’s a genuinely good bloke and will no doubt add to the environment and culture that we have here.”