'There's nobody better than Itoje to learn from': Hugh Tizard on his move from Quins to Saracens
Daily Mail When Hugh Tizard announced last year that he was crossing London rugby's north-south divide to join Saracens, it caused shock at Harlequins. Months later he was experiencing a shock of his own.
It wasn't so much the rugby change which the 22-year-old lock had to come to terms with, it was more to do with every-day life upheaval.
Having been living at home with his parents in Guildford as he burst to prominence at Quins, all of a sudden he was out of his comfort zone - by choice - and confronted by the spectre of an empty fridge and paying bills amid a cost-of-living crisis.
'I might have ended up in Guildford my whole life,' said Tizard, who grew up in the Surrey town, where the Quins' training base is located.
'St Albans isn't drastically different, but it's a bit further away and it's given me a chance to meet new people.
'My rise to playing in the first team at Quins happened pretty quickly and I was still at home with my parents. The first few weeks after I moved up here, it was definitely about growing up and learning how to be an adult! My mum and dad had looked after me really well so it was a hard thing to leave that house, but I think I've already got a lot better at the things you need to be good at.
