THE SAMURAI SEVENS TEAM - THE WHOLE STORY.

Samurai Rugby was formed in 1996 when Terry Sands was asked to enter a team in to the 25th anniversary of the Amsterdam Sevens tournament.
Terry had been working in South Africa at the 1995 Rugby World Cup where he remembered and admired the great spirit of the Japanese team. The Japanese team lacked the size and technique required for the 15-man game, but were passionate, adventurous, enthusiastic and just loved to run with the ball. The team embodied everything you would look for to become a successful 7's team. With the Japanese Ethos in mind it was decided to name this all new invitation 7's side The Samurai.

They won their first event, the 25th Anniversary Amsterdam Sevens tournament, in style.
The team certainly caught peoples eye. Not only were they the crowd favorites in their unique and exclusive playing kit. Several Rugby administrators in the large crowd also took note.

Suddenly the team started to receive many more invitations. In their first season they won all 3 of the tournaments entered and went on in 1997 to successfully defend their Amsterdam 7s crown.

Invitations then started to flood in from all over the World. The Samurai team was initially totally self-funding finding it difficult to afford many overseas tournaments. However, with their success came assistance from several local businesses. Suddenly the team was not confined to Europe and they were able to participate Worldwide. They have since competed in tournaments in Hong Kong, Dubai, USA, Cayman Islands, Trinidad, Kenya, Portugal, Zambia, Italy, Wales and England.

By the year 2000 in a very short space of time, Samurai Rugby had become the most well known invitation 7s side in the UK and through some fine performances were fast becoming known all over the World.

It was in the year 2000 that Samurai Rugby really came of age as they were asked to compete in the prestigious Middlesex Sevens tournament held at Twickenham in August. An honor that very few invitation teams had ever received. With backing from American company 3dfx a team was put together with players from Fiji, Australia, South Africa and the UK. Disposing of London Wasps in the first round the quarter final was next where they faced a mighty Penguins team that included Eric Rush, Waisale Serevi, Craig DiGoldi, Cameron Pither and Viliame Satala that formed possibly the best World 7 ever seen.

The Samurai team performed admirably and surprised the huge crowd as they eventually went down by 19 points to 10. A fantastic performance and celebrations soon began in the infamous West car park at Twickenham Stadium.

The year 2000 was to become a very important year. The Samurai team now included players from all over the World so the Samurai committee decided to change the clubs name to Samurai International RFC. At the same time another name change took place, as Sands Rugby Gear supply company Titan Sports, became Samurai Sportswear. Then, at the end of the year Norwich Based Loss recovery specialists ULR signed up a 3-year sponsorship deal with the Club.
With funding now a little easier, more tournaments were entered and a unique and exclusive range of Samurai replica kit was offered for sale throughout the UK, with the famous ‘rising sun’ name patch, club logo and full ULR branding.

In June 2002 the Samurai team were able to reap revenge over the famous Penguin team as they won the Lisbon 7s. Beating a Penguin team, that again included Wasiale Serevi, in the final 37 – 19.
The following year their fantastic Lisbon achievement was added to, as they beat the British Army Fijian Team in the final of the International Cayman Island 7s.

In 2003 the Samurai ventured in to the 10 a side game as they were invited to the Hong Kong Tens. A narrow loss to eventual winners New Zealand Metro in the semi final capped another fine performance.

The Samurai success story continued throughout 2004 where they won 7 tournaments from 11 starts culminating in a fine victory over the British Army at the New York 7s in December. Another first in 2004 was the formation of the Samurai Ladies invitation team who ended with a 2 from 2 record as they won the Bulgaria and Dubai 7s in style.

2005 proved to be another great year as the team went onto win the Big 3 being victorious in Rome, Cayman and Amsterdam where the ladies and Mens team done the Double.

to be continued

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