Hugh dismissed talk that he had put pressure on Colin to play in tonight's match against Ospreys at Hughenden (ko 7.45pm).
He told today's Sun: "I followed the correct procedure by contacting the Hawks club member assigned to deal with these matters.
"We had been urged to take only two men from Hawks and we were riding with that.
"But when Gareth Maclure failed a fitness test, we really had no option but to make another request for Colin.
"The game with the Ospreys is hugely important and we certainly don't want to go in against them without our strongest available squad - and Colin has proved himself in that respect.
"There was no pressure put on him. The bottom line is players should be operating at the highest level.
"Clubs should support that because the game in Scotland depends on everyone pulling together."