2 days ago
Wales international searching for new team as he leaves club
Wales international searching for new team as he leaves club
Cory Hill is on the lookout for a new club
Cory Hill of Wales
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd )
Former Wales lock Cory Hill has left Japan and is on the lookout for a new club.
The 33-year-old has departed Japanese club Secom Rugguts who are in the third tier in Japan after two seasons and is back on the market.
Hill has been in Japan for the past five seasons after initially playing his trade for Yokohama Canon Eagles in the top division after leaving Cardiff in 2021.
He was then included in Wales' Rugby World Cup training camp back in 2023 but later pulled out to sign a contract for Secom Rugguts. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
During his two years at Secom Rugguts, Hill earnt a Wales recall for last summers tour of Australia.
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On that tour, Hill apologised for an incident in 2021 - when he was named as among a group of men who damaged a woman's house in May 2021. At the time of the incident, the woman said she feared for hers and her children's safety. Hill was never charged by police for the incident, but issued an apology through a representative.
Hill was chosen by Warren Gatland to captain Wales in their final tour match against the Queensland Reds, but pulled out shortly before kick-off amid a backlash from some fans. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
The 33-year-old has won 32 caps for Wales and was a huge asset to his country during the 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam campaign and the World Cup semi-final appearance of the same year, while he also won the Championship in 2021 under Wayne Pivac.
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In his prime Hill was renowned as an outstanding lineout forward with a nice blend of athleticism and physicality.
Hill is back on the market and is sure to attract some interest from Wales given the lack of top end second-rows in Welsh rugby, while his availability will also pique the interest of clubs in England, France and Japan. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
Of the Welsh clubs, Cardiff and the Dragons would be best placed to make a move for Hill given they have signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement and will have higher playing budgets than the Ospreys and Scarlets.
