Hill injury rocks England

The Saracens back-row forward could be sidelined for up to nine months after undergoing surgery to reconstruct his anterior cruciate ligament.

But he told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I'm certainly not giving up on international rugby.

"My heart tells me I want to play for my club and my country again and that is certainly my aim."

Hill was virtually an automatic starter for England during Sir Clive Woodward's tenure and looked set for a regular berth in the back row under Andy Robinson.

Feature: Absent Hill is massive loss

But for Hill, just regaining fitness is the initial focus.

He said: "My aim is to get myself fit to play rugby again. I have set no specific goal in terms of how long that will take but that is what I want to do.

"Many things went through my mind immediately after I learned the extent of the damage because it did come as a shock to me. But giving up wasn't one of them."

Hill, who has been capped 71 times at international level, admitted he had spoken to other team-mates - past and present - about what to expect during his lay-off.

"I've been fully briefed by guys like Lawrence Dallaglio who have been in similar situations that it's a tough process to get back but by no means unachievable," he said.