Real battle versus Cayman

Bermuda face an uphill challenge this weekend with a must-win game against arch rival Cayman islands on Saturday. 

The Caribbean Championship game is slated to kick off at 4pm on Saturday, June 7 at National Sports Stadium and serves as a curtain raiser for “The Big Game” involving Saracens and a Bermuda Barbarian Select team. 

Cayman are opening their campaign with an away game to Bermuda who have already lost to regional powerhouses USA South 33-6. 

A win by Cayman will set up a winner-take-all encounter back in Grand Cayman against USA South. Last year, Bermuda took a weakened 20-man squad down to Cayman and lost 20-10. 

This time around, Bermuda is fielding a much stronger and experienced back-line. Starting for Bermuda in the centres are  Police RFC duo Paul Davis and Tommy Edwards. 

Both played in the last Caribbean championship win. Bermuda will be relying on speedsters Neville Zuill and Richard Cumbers to cover out wide on the wings. BRFU player of the year Dan Cole starts at full back and will provide solid back coverage as well as speed when joining the line in attack. 

Coach Rudolf Van der Westhuizen is counting on a new half-back pairing of  Tom Healy and Phill Hall. Dustin Archibald has been added as a forward. 

Tashon Desilva and big Dave Rourke, who recovered from his ankle injury of last season, and Number eight and Captain Peter Dunkerley provide Bermuda three line-out jumping options.