The New Zealand international was voted Supporters’ Newcomer of the Year in his first season with the club and, likewise, the fans have certainly made an impression on the man who only arrived in the East Midlands in November.
“The environment in Cardiff for the Heineken Cup semi-final was nothing like I had experienced before,” Hamilton says.
“Seeing all the Leicester fans around the city and on the way to the game, and the two sets of fans in the Millennium Stadium, it sends a shiver down your spine.
“When you run out seeing all those fans who had made the trip there, it felt great. I have only been here six months but that made me proud to play for the club.”
Hamilton scored his first try for Tigers in the Heineken Cup, in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the south of France when countryman Dan Carter made his much-heralded debut for Perpignan. And the All Black wing is already a fan of the tournament.
“The Heineken Cup is a great competition, it is awesome to be part of it,” he said.
“A lot of friends and family saw the Guinness Premiership Final on television back in New Zealand last weekend and they will be watching the game live this week too.”
