FIRST OF MANY FOR LADIES 7 ?

Samurai International R.F.C. have become the first International Invitation 7s team to add a Ladies Team to the club. Womans Rugby was given a great boost as the Samurai team took the Sofia 7s tournament by storm. It is hoped that the team will be able to continue to enter many more tournaments over the next few years.
 

Samurai Ladies 7s win first tournament

The Samurai Ladies 7's team returned from their debut tournament as winners. The team, shadowing the equally successful mens team, went through the entire tournament without a single point being scored against them.

Coached by Nigel Brook-Walters (Wasps), Andrew Willett (Australian 7's) and Colin Hillman (Welsh 7's coach) the Samurai Ladies beat the Bulgarian National Team 57 - o in the final.

Throughout the tournament the team played with such style and skill that the girls would have been more than a match for many of the mens team competing in Bulgaria.

Sally Wise, captain of Samurai Ladies, was delighted with the result. "It really was a great perfomance from the girls given the minimum time available to prepare together.

It is particularly pleasing after the support shown to us by sponsors Samurai, Gerrard and ULR. The whole squad is really looking forward to our next competition".

 

Hong Tens 2004

The Samurai team, in only their 2nd ever 10s tournament were again beaten at the semi-final stage of this tough competition.
In the pool games they disposed of Glenmorangie Black Watch Fijians, Pacific Coast Grizzlies, Chinese Universities and the Irish Vikings.
All of the pool games were highly competitive as is the norm at this high standard tournament.

A last minute call off from Australian 7s Fly half Tim Walshe did not help the Samurai cause, but when Queensland Reds and a Super 12 Contract came calling, the answer was never going to be No.

The Samurai Semi Final against favourites NZ Metro was a very physical affair.
The appointment of a New Zealand referee for this match was perhaps a little unfair and he struggled to take control of the game in the correct manner.
The contact area became a lottery and this eventually culminated in some very dubious decisions. The game deteriorated rapidly and the large supportive crowd could not believe some of the referee’s decisions against the Samurai team.
Lewitt and Powell of the Samurai spent time in the Sin Bin and with less than a minute left Brent Wilson finally got his marching orders with a Red Card. The card came much to late and Metro ran out winners by 15 points to Nil.

The 2nd consecutive semi final defeat, but a defeat with honour as the Samurai again became the highest placed Notrhern Hemisphere team in the competition.
 

Team;
John Devereaux – Swansea / Ben Lewitt – Orrell.
Gerrie Engelbrecht and Francois Hoffman – Blue Bulls.
Andy Powell – Celtic Warriors / Jim Jenner – Worcester.
Kingsley Jones – Pontypridd / Kramer Ronaki – Bedford.
Dan Connelley – London Welsh / Chris Yates – Worcester.
Chris Macdonald – Bridgend / Jon Boden – Rugby Lions.
Ed Burrill – Wasps / Simon Hunt – Perpignan /
John Carter – Doncaster.
 

Coach = Colin Hillman. Manager = Terry Sands. Physio = Ian Horslet.

Samurai unveil new sponsor for Hong Kong 10s.

The Samurai team for Hong Kong have been very fortunate indeed to enlist the generous support of Welsh Company Thrislington Clean Rooms, whose manufacturing base is in India. The Samurai team are now able to add to the list of companies that have made the trip to Hong Kong possible.
The whole Samurai Team are most thankful to ULR Norwich, Thrislington Clean Rooms, Bostall’s, RKL, Magnus Group. And  Iver Technical Services.
We sincerely hope we can go One better than last year.
THRISLINGTON CLEAN ROOMS INDIA

SAMURAI’S INVITED BACK TO HONG KONG

After last years first ever effort at Ten a side Rugby and their subsequent Semi Final exit against the eventual winners New Zealand Metro. The Hong Kong Tens organisors have invited the team back for the 2004 tournament, to be held at the Hong Kong Football Club on the 24th / 25th March.

The Samurai management certainly learnt a lot from last years tournament and they hope they can go One better this year.

This years team will include Alan Bateman and John Devereaux as well as several other well known faces.

The team have been fortunate to attract the support of several additional sponsors for this One off tournament as it outside of the teams normal 7s budget.

Huge thanks must go to ULR Norwich, Bostall’s Kent, RHK Design Hong Kong and
Iver Technical Services for their generous support.

Watch this space to see how the team goes..........