 Hamilton was born in Swindon, England, to a Scottish soldier father and a half-England half-Chinese mother.He was brought up on a council estate in Coventry and educated at Coundon Court School in Coventry, and played for Barkers Butts R.F.C, whilst there he was part of the Warwickshire Colts side before joining Leicester Tigers.He also spent a summer playing in New Zealand in order to advance his potential.