Welsh snap up Sharks duo (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Welsh snap up Sharks duo

9:45am Wednesday 10th June 2009 in

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London Welsh have moved to bolster their pack as they prepare for next seasons Championship and British & Irish Cup by signing Michael Hills and Joe Horn-Smith from Sale Sharks.

Flanker, Hills, 23, joined the Sale Academy in 2003 straight from school and went on to make 24 appearances for the Sharks. He was named Jet of the Year in 2005/06 – a season he capped by making his Guinness Premiership debut against Newcastle Falcons in April 2006.

He was part of England’s 2006 U21 Grand Slam winning side and represented England at the U21 World Championships in France the same year. Hills also gained representative honours at U18 and U19, and with England Sevens, where he crossed paths with London Welsh Assistant Coach Phil Greening.

He won his first cap at the Dubai Sevens in November 2006 and helped England to Bowl success at the IRB Sevens in Edinburgh in June 2007. It was Hills’ ‘golden try’ which saw off Australia in the semi-final with the flanker then helping himself to another try in the final in England’s 31-0 victory over Portugal.

Hills also brings European experience to Old Deer Park having made two Heineken Cup appearances for Sale and playing in a Challenge Cup semi-final, against Bath in 2008.

Prop, Horn-Smith, 27, joined Sale from Exeter Chiefs last February after impressing during a trial period with the club. He subsequently made his Sale debut in the Guinness Premiership clash with Northampton Saints at Franklins Gardens.

A Bristol Academy graduate, Horn-Smith enjoyed spells with Sale and French side Periguex before joining Exeter in January 2006. An England Students regular, Horn-Smith went on to make 36 league appearances for the Chiefs and was named Most Improved Player in 2006/07.

Horn-Smith will also link up again at London Welsh with Phil Greening, his former junior coach at Spartans RFC in Gloucester where they both began their playing rugby careers.

“I knew Danny Wilson [Head Coach] was an up and coming coach with some really good ideas, and I enjoyed playing under Phil Greening in the England Sevens set up,” said Hills.

“London Welsh are an ambitious club making the transition to professionalism, and that’s what attracted me to the club. It’s also exciting to be making a fresh start in my playing career, and what better place to do that than London.”

“I spoke with Danny and it was his drive for London Welsh to be successful that really sold me on the idea of joining the club,” said Horn-Smith.

“The Championship and the British & Irish Cup are two new competitions and the opportunity to play against some of the Irish and Welsh sides is really exciting. It’s another piece of silverware up for grabs, and hopefully we can win something for this club.”

“Mike and Joe come highly recommended by Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones,” said London Welsh Head Coach Danny Wilson. “We are delighted to be able to bring them both to the club as their experience will be invaluable for what promises to be an exciting but challenging season ahead.

“Mike comes from a very experienced background; he’s an extremely mobile ball-playing number seven and will suit the way we want to play. He links up well with the backs and likes to play. Joe has a solid set piece, particularly in the scrum, and works hard around the pitch.”