England veteran Chris Hill slams his critics - 'I wouldn’t comment on working at KFC!'

Ex-Great Britain prop, 36, is in the 24-man squad to face Samoa and ready to do whatever job Shaun Wane asks of him as he ignores snipers saying he's too old

Veteran prop Chris Hill couldn’t care less what the knockers say as he prepares to line up for England again - just shy of his 37th birthday.

The battled-hardened forward is included in Shaun Wane’s 24-man squad for the upcoming two Test series against Samoa. There are only two uncapped players - Wigan duo Junior Nsemba and Liam Marshall - who get the nod. Some people are wondering why 39-times capped Hill, after a season with strugglers Huddersfield, has been picked again.

But the 2017 World Cup finalist insisted: “I don’t listen to outside noise. I never have. I leave it to my missus and kids to go on social media and look at that - and see the people who have never played rugby league make comment.

"I wouldn’t comment on working at KFC as I’ve never done that. I don’t bother with all that. If I did, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now. All I’m bothered about is what my coaches and team-mates think. And I’ll bring my experience if called upon.”

Hill, who is set to play for Salford in 2025, has explained what Wane has asked from him. He said: “I get on really well with Waney, and built up a good relationship with him the last few years. So when the mid-season Test came around, he said, with no disrespect to France, he probably needed to look at some other lads ready for moving forwards to next year’s Ashes and the 2026 World Cup.

“He told me to have a rest and I didn’t think much of it but towards the back end of the year we spoke a few times. I always said I’d never retire from England and if you need me and you think I can do a job then select me. I know I can do a job - otherwise I wouldn’t put myself forward.

“We’ve got a great set of forwards coming through as you can see with this squad. I presume he just wants a little bit of experience around. It’s a different way of playing is Test match. Being in camp as well, a lot of the lads have not experienced camp lifestyle and living in each other's pockets.

“This is only going to be 12 or 14 days for the two Samoa games but they need to be ready for four or five weeks in Oz and then returning for the World Cup which could be another seven or eight week trip. You have to adapt to it. And it is hard. It’s not as hard as when you’re older and are in Oz away from family. But it’s a different way of playing for many of these and he just wants some experience around to help out, guide them and maybe get a few minutes under my belt.”

England face Samoa for the first time since a shock World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of the Pacific Islanders two years ago. The first Test is at Wigan on Sunday week before they complete the two-Test series at Headingley on Saturday November 2 - the day before Hill’s birthday. Wigan centre Jake Wardle was unavailable due to injury while Jez Litten, Robbie Mulhern and Tom Johnstone are the others trimmed from the initial 31-man squad.

England squad: Ashton, Bateman, Currie, Walker, Williams (all Warrington), Havard, Marshall, Nsemba, Smith, Thompson (all Wigan), Clark, Lees, Knowles, Welsby (all St Helens), Radley, Young (both Sydney Roosters), Newman (Leeds), McMeeken (Catalans), Lewis (Hull KR), Burgess (South Sydney), Farnworth (Dolphins), Hill (Huddersfield), Pearce-Paul (Newcastle), Smithies (Canberra).