SPEEDY Valley winger Ashley Billington has been handed a golden chance of playing in next month's Hongkong Sevens after being called into the territory's training squad as a last-minute replacement for injured David O'Brien.
The training squad was reduced to 13 at the weekend following the withdrawal of Mike Seigne because of a knee injury, but national coach George Simpkin was prepared to proceed without a replacement.
But Billington, who had an outstanding game for Valley in the Bell's Knockout Cup semi-final against Club on Saturday, was drafted in last night when Club's O'Brien hurt his ankle.
His call-up came at the expense of Club players Justin Weston and Keith Gauntlet who had hoped to fight their way into the squad should replacements be called upon.
Billington has been in the territory for less than a year but has already made his international debut for Hongkong, at the Dubai Sevens last November.
Before earning an appearance at the Hongkong Sevens, though, he must impress in this weekend's Singapore Sevens. Simpkin will be making assessments there to select his 10-man squad for the Canberra Sevens, on March 13, and the Hongkong tournament on March27 and 28.