A winger, Hale scored 48 tries for Moseley in the 1967–68 season and gained his first England cap against the Springboks at Twickenham in 1969.[2] He earned a further two caps in the 1970 Five Nations Championship.[3] During this period, he rebuffed an approach to play rugby league for Swinton.[4] He continued his rugby union career at Bath in 1972.[5]