TIGHTHEAD prop Nick Schonert says flanker Ted Hill has got “everything going for him” and is a rising star Worcester Warriors must “invest in”.

Hill became the 37th Warriors player to win a full international cap when he came off the bench in England’s victory over Japan at Twickenham this month.

Schonert said he “could not be happier” for the 19-year-old who he described as an “asset” to the Gallagher Premiership outfit.

The front rower has witnessed close up the progression Hill has made having trained and played with him at Sixways.

But it was during the duo’s time away with England when it really hit home to Schonert how much talent the Worcester-born back rower possessed and how valuable he was for Warriors.

“When we were in (training base) Brown’s (in Portugal with England) myself and Teddy were filling in for the guys that had niggles and I looked at him in the lineouts,” Schonert said.

“I was thinking he does not seem out of place. It’s weird as you don’t often say that about a 19-year-old. It’s rare and I thought he is an asset.

“He is someone Worcester have got to invest in because he is a great lad.

“Personally I think you have got to look at the person off the field before you look at the player on it.

“He is very humble, is hard working and knows his place.

“He will give you the shirt off his back and give blood, sweat and tears for the team.

“I could not be happier for him (to make his England debut).”

Hill is a product of the Warriors AASE programme, having studied at Worcester Sixth Form College, and featured for Worcester Cavaliers in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 campaigns.

The 6ft 5in forward made his first-team bow in last season’s Anglo-Welsh Cup before making a name for himself in the top-flight this season.

He came off the bench to score a match-winning double in Warriors’ 44-37 victory at Leicester Tigers and quickly established himself as Worcester’s first-choice blindside flanker.

His meteoric rise has taken many people by surprise as he was called up by head coach Eddie Jones for the autumn internationals.

But Schonert insisted Hill, an ex-Malvern youth team player, deserved his place in Jones’ side.

“I believe cream eventually comes to the top,” Schonert said.

“He has got everything going for him.

“He’s a big, hard-working lad that wants it and is determined for it.

“He could have come on against Leicester and had a bad game.

“But he took the bull by the horns, scored four tries in three games and had a great start.

“That’s why he deserves to be where he is.”

Asked whether he thought Hill could go on to accumulate a number of England caps, Schonert added: “Certainly.

“If he keeps working, keeps doing what he is doing and keeps improving himself every day I believe he will.

“He is a really good player.”