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Excitement is beginning to build in the island's rugby fraternity as the first ever Conyers Youth Cup draws closer.

The tournament, borne to fruition out of the generous sponsorship of Conyers Dill & Pearman and hard work by officials in both Bermuda and Cayman rugby circles, takes place over the weekend of March 14 and 15 at the National Sports Centre.

Mini rugby has grown steadily in Bermuda in the last number of years and this competition and international matches are a reward for the hard work of the players and everyone else involved in the mini rugby programme here in Bermuda.

The rugby will be played by youngsters in the U-10, U-12 and U-14 age groups between Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. On Saturday, March 14, there will be a round robin tournament played out at all three age levels, with the Cayman sides competing with all of the local clubs for top spot.

The competition will be run out between 1pm and 4pm and is sure to provide some exciting action. There will be activities provided for children too, including a bouncy castle. Food and drink will also be available at the grounds, provided by Upper Crust.

Sunday, March 15 will see full internationals taking place between Bermuda and Cayman at the three age groups.

This has generated huge excitement as the players realize that's it's a huge honour to be selected to represent their respective countries. The squads for the international fixtures have been doing extra training in preparation for these matches, which are surely the highlight of their fledgling rugby careers.

The first match on Sunday will be at U-10 level and will start at noon. Up next is the fixture between the sides at U-12's and this is penciled in for a 1pm start. The last game is the U-14 match and this is due to start at 2pm, and following this at around 3:15pm. will be the prize presentations. Again there will be activities for the children and drinks will also be available for purchase at the ground.

All support is welcome and appreciated to cheer on Bermuda's young guns. It is also the ideal opportunity to get a feel for the game if you might be interested in playing or are considering having your children play. Entrance and parking are free for both days.

Gary Brady is the public relations officer for the Bermuda rugby.[[In-content Ad]]

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