Rugby Football Union - Sevens - Williams returns home to Hong Kong

Tuesday 27th March 2007

When the England Sevens squad flew into Hong Kong yesterday it was
something of a home-coming for 23 year old Tom Williams (NEC
Harlequins). Tom, whose father is a pilot for Cathay Pacific, grew up
in Hong Kong and began his rugby career at the Kai Tak Rugby Club.

"I lived in Hong Kong for 13 years and went to Boundary School and a
school called Gun Club on Kowloon. I was born in Brighton but my family
moved over here when I was about one and my younger brother was born
here. I started playing rugby on a Sunday instead of going to Sunday
school and there were a lot of ex-pat children who played for the same
club as me."

Tom has only ever played England Sevens on one occasion but
appropriately it was in the 2004 Hong Kong Sevens when a last minute
decision by Gloucester not to release Henry Paul led to Tom's first cap.
He says, "It was all quite sudden. I hadn't been involved with the
England Sevens set up but I think Quins put me forward and I was lucky
enough to get the call up."

2004 was England's second successive win in the Hong Kong Sevens and
Tom's fellow team mates included captain Simon Amor and Tony Roques -
both also involved in this year's squad. Tom reflects, "Playing in the
sevens over here was amazing. When I was growing up I played as a kid
at the old stadium. To go on to play in the real tournament was
incredible and an amazing experience to come back and play where I had
begun playing rugby."

The sevens is one of the biggest events in the Hong Kong calendar and
growing up Tom was always aware of the significance of the occasion.
"There is such a big ex-pat community and the sevens brings everyone
together to have a massive party."

Tom's rugby career could have easily been very different as he played
Under 16s and Under 19s for Wales before switching to England. He
explains, "At 16s level I wasn't selected for my counties side
(Berkshire) as Nils Mordt, who is also part of the England Sevens squad,
was already playing inside centre. So I had links with Wales through my
grandfather and played up to 19s for Wales."

Tom is in his fifth season with NEC Harlequins, who he joined from
Wellington College. Wellington boasts a fine line up of rugby alumni
including several England Sevens players with Ben Russell, Dominic
Shabbo and James Haskell all having attended Wellington. Tom says,
"Wellington is a very sporting school and we were lucky enough to have a
successful couple of years at rugby."

He enjoys playing at Quins and has firm ambitions to become a regular
first team starter, as well as looking towards England selection. Tom
says, "At the start of this season I was determined to play well for
Quins and get regular selection, but I must admit I also looked to
England Sevens and also England Saxons. I didn't have the best start to
the season and am now working hard to get back into the Quins side and
see what happens."

An obvious fan of sevens, Tom jokingly wishes that every rugby player
spent time learning the shortened version of the game due to the focus
on core skills. "If everyone played sevens you would get props passing
to each other and running around people rather than into them. That
would make a big difference and mean an advancement of the game. Sevens
teaches you how to play under pressure and with fatigue and it does
genuinely help improve your game."

Tom is part of the 13 man squad who England Sevens Coach Ben Ryan has
selected for the Hong Kong Sevens which begins on Friday (30th March).
Despite his homecoming, Tom's family are unable to join him at the
weekend. "When I played in 2004 my family all flew over to watch me and
were very proud, but unfortunately they can't come this time. My father
is still a pilot but has to fly back to London on Thursday so can't stay
and watch. Unfortunately he wasn't flying the plane we flew in on
yesterday else I would have been upgraded!"

England's first pool game match is against Hong Kong on Friday at 17.58
local time or 10.58 BST.

Keep up to date with England's progress at rfu.com/sevens

The BBC will also be showing coverage of the tournament on Sunday 1st
April from 11.30am on BBC TWO.

Ends.