THE national rugby team-Silverbacks expect a warm welcome when they jet back this afternoon after a commendable display in Hong Kong.

The team did Rwanda proud after reaching the Plate Cup final of the Kwoloo Development Cup, a subsidiary tournament of the IRB World 7s series’ curtain raiser ‘the Hong Kong 10s’.

The team’s pace and silky ball skills caught the eye of former International greats Bob Skinstad (South Africa) and John Bentley (England).

Skinstad, a member of South Africa’s 2007 Rugby World Cup winning squad and co-founder of the Cape Town 10s, told Hong Kong media that Silverbacks have the potential to emulate East African rugby giants Kenya, who are only second to South Africa on the continent.

"It’s a fantastic story how the Rwandans came to be playing here, I love it,” he said. "I was astounded by their pace and skill levels, they have obviously taken on rugby in a big way.

"We’ve all seen what the Kenyans have achieved at sevens and there is a similar potential with these guys.

For their commendable effort, the team were given rugby balls and jerseys. Meanwhile a silverbacks string side ‘Hulks’ also departs for Uganda this morning to take part in the fifth edition of the Nile Special 7 aside fun tourney scheduled at Dam waters Grounds in Jinja.

Ends