At the 2021 edition of the Amsterdam 7s, had it gone ahead, Samurai RFC turned 25 years old. An amateur invitational team formed by former England manager Terry Sands in 1996 as a favour to the Amsterdam tournament organisers: Samurai RFC have become the standard by which all invitational rugby sevens teams are judged around the World.
The first ever team wasn’t too shabby. It contained the then unknown Martyn Williams alongside the likes Mike Boys and Chris Wyatt. The management team wasn’t bad either with Colin Hillman, Bob Reeves and Terry Sands all running the show.
Since then the club has identified and given opportunities to players from all over the World with a former players list that, from a rugby sevens perspective, is beyond compare. In fact only the Barbarians or British & Irish Lions, also invitational sides, come close to the sheer numbers of world class players to pull on their famous jerseys.
Now I will prefix what I say next with: I am clearly biased. In my opinion Samurai RFC is the most successful invitational rugby sevens club in the World. Now in my defense I can actually back up that claim with cold hard facts.
Samurai RFC have helped to produce Internationals, Olympians, Series record holders, World Players of the Year and top level coaches: below is snapshot of some of those achievements in the club’s 25th year.
At the club’s 20th Anniversary they could boast that over 70 of the players and staff present at the at the WSS London 7s were part of the #SamuraiFamily representing thirteen different nations.
As we begin the 2022 sevens season, including a delayed 25th party at the Amsterdam 7s, I am excited about what the next 25 years holds for this unique rugby club.
Deano's World 