Dave has announced that he has scrapped his retirement plans as
Bristol Shoguns close in on a dream return to the top flight. Hilts,
who turns 35 in April, is out of contract at the end of the season, but it is understood that head coach Richard Hill is set to reward the front-row forward with a new deal.
The former Scotland prop is enjoying his best form in years and made his 18th appearance of the season in Sunday's 43-0 victory over Nottingham. The veteran forward stated: "I want to keep
playing."
"Everyone was asking me if I was going to retire. It was quite bizarre and after a while you start thinking about giving up.
"But just before Christmas I decided to carry on and enjoy myself. I
will put all the ideas of retirement out of my head until I feel I am
not doing myself justice."
Dave returned to Bristol 18 months ago to captain the club in their
first year out of the Zurich Premiership, although the campaign was
more difficult than he imagined.
However, he did lift the Powergen Shield - the Shoguns' first silverware since winning the 1998/99 Premiership Two title - and has been in scintillating form this term in a Bristol team currently topping the First Division.