ESSEX Pirates’ Colin Sing thoroughly enjoyed his latest taste of international action — despite picking up a succession of injuries.

Sing was part of the Great Britain under-23 squad for an four-team tournament in Lille from against France, Belgium and Luxembourg.

And he believes the experience will help make him a better player.

“It was really good and tough but I enjoyed it, even though I had injuries throughout the week,” said Sing.

“I rolled my ankle in the game against France and then hurt my back against Luxembourg.

“That was not nice but although the camp was only a week I learnt a lot and know the skills I need to work on to improve my overall skills as a basketball player.”

Britain were narrowly beaten by France before seeing off both Belgium and Luxembourg.

But Sing insisted it had been a hard week.

“I found it tough because I was guarding point guards in practice,” said Sing.

“There wasnt really anyone who played in the same position as me really “By that I mean in height as the other guards were smaller than me and other guys were bigger and slower than me.”

Sing impressed while on court but he is still struggling with a back injury he sustained while playing against Luxembourg in a game Britain won by 41 points.

“I blocked a guy by helping on the weak-side under the basket but as I blocked him he went under me and crouched over,” recalled Sing.

“I somehow ended up with my back on his and fell off, back first on to the floor. It wasn’t nice and I’m still feeling it a bit.”

Sing, who will be returning to the Southend based Pirates next season, has now opted to pull out of the England squad he was named in.

But he will soon be working on improving his game.

“The GB coaching staff had meetings with us individually and told us what we need to work on to make us better as players and to have the chance to get in to men’s future team,” said Sing.

“I know what I have to do and I’m now aiming to achieve it.”