Colin Hillman (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Colin Hillman was a former Welsh rugby coach with the Wales National Sevens team
.
Hillman was also Spanish National Sevens Rugby
coach and developer of rugby in Spain. Hillman also remained as Director of Rugby at Bridgend RFC
and was still a WRU Technical Advisor to the Wales Sevens team
at the time of his death.
During his senior playing career, Hillman was hooker for Bridgend RFC
but also played for the Barbarians
, Wales Sevens
, Swansea RFC
, South Wales Police RFC
, Bridgend Sports and Merthyr rugby clubs. Alongside his role with Wales 7s, Colin was also an integral part of the Samurai rugby 7s
brand becoming one of the most recognisable in the world of rugby today via both coaching and managing.
but also played for the Barbarians, Wales Sevens
, Swansea RFC
, South Wales Police RFC
, Bridgend Sports and Merthyr rugby clubs. Colin Hillman was a part of rugby history when he played for the Wales Youth team which defeated South Africa Youth 30 - 25 at the Newlands ground, Cape Town on May 31, 1980 in a curtain raiser match before the British and Irish Lions
played the Springboks. Two of his team mates that day included future internationals Bleddyn Bowen
and Ray Giles. The game remains as the only Welsh international win again a South African international team on South African soil.
Coach. He represented the jerseys to the Wales squad which then headed for Dubai and won the Rugby World Cup for the first time in 2009. His reputation around the world of rugby was emphasised when he was asked to help develop and coach the Spanish National Sevens Rugby Team. Alongside his role with Wales 7s, Colin was also an integral part of the Samurai rugby 7s
brand becoming one of the most recognisable in the world of rugby today via both coaching and managing
Wales national rugby union team (sevens)
The Wales national rugby union sevens team is the international rugby sevens side for Welsh rugby union players. They currently compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and in the Commonwealth Games....
.
Hillman was also Spanish National Sevens Rugby
Spain national rugby union team (sevens)
The Spain national rugby union sevens is a minor national sevens side.-2008 Hannover Sevens:Group A matches --Current Squad:Squad to 2011 Hong Kong Sevens*Victor Gomez*Carlos Blanco*Federico Negrillo*Pablo Feijoo*Facundo Lavino*Martin Heredia...
coach and developer of rugby in Spain. Hillman also remained as Director of Rugby at Bridgend RFC
Bridgend RFC
Bridgend Ravens are a semi-professional rugby union club based in Bridgend, South Wales. They currently play in the Welsh Premier Division...
and was still a WRU Technical Advisor to the Wales Sevens team
Wales national rugby union team (sevens)
The Wales national rugby union sevens team is the international rugby sevens side for Welsh rugby union players. They currently compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and in the Commonwealth Games....
at the time of his death.
During his senior playing career, Hillman was hooker for Bridgend RFC
Bridgend RFC
Bridgend Ravens are a semi-professional rugby union club based in Bridgend, South Wales. They currently play in the Welsh Premier Division...
but also played for the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
, Wales Sevens
Wales national rugby union team (sevens)
The Wales national rugby union sevens team is the international rugby sevens side for Welsh rugby union players. They currently compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and in the Commonwealth Games....
, Swansea RFC
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
, South Wales Police RFC
South Wales Police RFC
South Wales Police Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in Bridgend, South Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Ospreys.- History :...
, Bridgend Sports and Merthyr rugby clubs. Alongside his role with Wales 7s, Colin was also an integral part of the Samurai rugby 7s
Samurai Sportswear
Samurai International Sportswear Limited is a privately owned English sports company specialising in the manufacturing of bespoke team wear sports apparel as well as the supply of equipment...
brand becoming one of the most recognisable in the world of rugby today via both coaching and managing.
Senior Playing Career
During his senior playing career, Hillman was hooker for Bridgend RFCBridgend RFC
Bridgend Ravens are a semi-professional rugby union club based in Bridgend, South Wales. They currently play in the Welsh Premier Division...
but also played for the Barbarians, Wales Sevens
Wales national rugby union team (sevens)
The Wales national rugby union sevens team is the international rugby sevens side for Welsh rugby union players. They currently compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and in the Commonwealth Games....
, Swansea RFC
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
, South Wales Police RFC
South Wales Police RFC
South Wales Police Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in Bridgend, South Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Ospreys.- History :...
, Bridgend Sports and Merthyr rugby clubs. Colin Hillman was a part of rugby history when he played for the Wales Youth team which defeated South Africa Youth 30 - 25 at the Newlands ground, Cape Town on May 31, 1980 in a curtain raiser match before the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
played the Springboks. Two of his team mates that day included future internationals Bleddyn Bowen
Bleddyn Bowen
Bleddyn Bowen is a former international Wales rugby union player.Bleddyn Bowen played club rugby for South Wales Police and Swansea RFC. His first international game was in 1983, along with five other first caps, against Romania; a game that Wales lost heavily, 24-6.Bowen retained his place and...
and Ray Giles. The game remains as the only Welsh international win again a South African international team on South African soil.
Coaching career
After his playing days, Hillman turned to coaching, significantly at Nantymoel RFC and became Director of Rugby at the Bridgend Ravens whilst also featuring on the international stage as the Wales Sevens National TeamWales national rugby union team (sevens)
The Wales national rugby union sevens team is the international rugby sevens side for Welsh rugby union players. They currently compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and in the Commonwealth Games....
Coach. He represented the jerseys to the Wales squad which then headed for Dubai and won the Rugby World Cup for the first time in 2009. His reputation around the world of rugby was emphasised when he was asked to help develop and coach the Spanish National Sevens Rugby Team. Alongside his role with Wales 7s, Colin was also an integral part of the Samurai rugby 7s
Samurai Sportswear
Samurai International Sportswear Limited is a privately owned English sports company specialising in the manufacturing of bespoke team wear sports apparel as well as the supply of equipment...
brand becoming one of the most recognisable in the world of rugby today via both coaching and managing