Friday 12 March 2010

Samurai International RFC will play in memory of former Wales Sevens coach Colin Hillman at this month's GFI Hong Kong Football Club Tens.

Hillman, who died in July after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, was part of the Welsh national sevens set-up which won the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai last March. He was also a longstanding coach of the Samurai International team at the HKFC Tens and many other Global tournaments.

"Colin's favourite tournament and indeed his favourite city was Hong Kong and it is therefore fitting the team will return in his honour," said Terry Sands, founder of the ULR Samurai International team.

"Colin was my closest friend and I thought the absolute world of him. He has assisted me with the Samurai team for many, many years and without him the team would never have seen the success they have. It was a privilege to work with him.

"He will be sadly missed by everyone," Sands added.

The Welsh Rugby Union now awards caps to the all Wales sevens internationals which included the Rugby World Cup Sevens winning players. In recognition of all the players who have previously played the shortened game for Wales under Hillman, a ceremonial `first cap' was presented to Janine Hillman, Colin's widow, as a tribute to her husband's services to sevens rugby in Wales.

Samurai International have a tough group at the 10s where they will play the Penguins, Cardiff University and hosts Hong Kong Football Club in the preliminary rounds at the 16-team tournament on March 24 and 25. They have never progressed past the Cup semi-final stage, but will be hoping to go further to give a fitting tribute to Hillman.