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Its with great sadness that UR7s reports that legendary welsh 7s coach Colin Hillman has passed away aged 46 after a long fight with cancer.

In a distinguished career he also played for Barbarians, Swansea, South Wales Police, Bridgend Sports, Merthyr, Wales Sevens, Schools and Youth.

After his playing days, the South Wales Police officer coached Nantymoel, was director of rugby at Bridgend Ravens, and played a key role with the Sevens.

Colin's final involvement with the Welsh team came this year as he presented the jerseys to players selected for the Rugby World Cup in Dubai which the side went on to win against long pre-tournament odds. The welsh victory lifted his spirits considerably and was fantastic that he got to see some of his hard work over the years in welsh 7s pay off on the greatest stage.

Alongside his role with Wales 7s, Collin was also an integral part of the Samurai rugby 7s brand becoming one of the most recognisable in the world of rugby today. Both coaching and managing many Samurai teams across the world has meant that he has touched the lives of many 7s enthusiasts, spectators, coaches and organisers and of course the players that he coached.

His peers and in many ways rivals considered him a friend with Joe Lydon saying "Colin Hillman was passionate about Welsh rugby and I had the utmost respect for him as a person and as a coach,"

"I first got to know him in 2002 when he coached the Wales Sevens team and I was coaching England.

"Over the years we became good friends and he will be sadly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

"I am also aware that he was extremely highly regarded as a player of great talent and determination.

"He did a tremendous amount of work on behalf of sevens rugby in Wales and that commitment continued even after his illness was diagnosed.

"I offer my sincere condolences to his family and his friends."

Samurai are working on bringing out a coaching booklet of which Hillman has had a lot of input into in the coming months. The book will be in memory of someone who is considered one of the great modern 7s coaches.

Director of Bridgend Ravens David Rees said: "I knew Colin throughout his life and will remember him as an extremely loyal friend and a wonderful colleague who will be sadly missed by anyone who met him.

"He was highly respected across the rugby world and in all the time I have known him I have never heard anyone speak ill of him. He was that popular a man."

As is often the case of Welsh rugby men, they are considered warm and welcoming people and Colin was no different, he will be sorely missed by his family and friends but also his extended family in the world of rugby 7s.