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Bermuda's top local rugby players will relish their moment in the spotlight when they kick off the Classic against Lloyds RFC.

A select XV, coached by Mariners boss Johan Oosthuizen takes on the visiting squad, made up of players from the UK insurance sector.

Traditionally Bermuda plays the first nation eliminated from the international event.

But the format has been altered this season and they will play Lloyds in the first match.

South African Oosthuizen was just as enthused about the prospect.

He said the Classic match was one of the highlights of the year for local players and a rare chance to play in front of a big crowd.

"We've got big turnouts at training. There are about 32 hopefuls looking to make the squad.

"It's not the Bermuda national team, it's a select team so we can pick players that are not eligible to play for Bermuda internationally.

"It will be a mix of locals and expats. There will be quite a few Bermudians in the team, though, especially those who did so well at the Sevens in the Caribbean recently."

The likes of national team skipper Bobby Hurdle, South African fly-half Paul Waldburger, stalwart Peter Dunkerley, rising star Kris Furbert and Renegades' Irish star Tom Healy will all be in contention.

"I don't want to speculate too much on the make-up of the team because everybody's training hard and everybody's in contention but whoever we select we hope to play some entertaining rugby.

"The players are excited to be part of the Classic opening game. They don't get to play in front of that many people very regularly so it's always nice to play in that kind of atmosphere."

Oosthuizen, who is being assisted by Chris Naylor, said his last experience of coaching at the Classic was a heavy defeat for his Bermuda Select side against the Classic Pumas of Argentina two years ago.

He's hoping for a better result this time but admits he knows very little about the opposition.

"We're looking forward to it. It's a bit worrying that we don't really know anything about the opposition but we'll hopefully have a good game and have a couple of beers with them afterwards.

"It's always good to get together with rugby people from around the world.

Bermuda kick-off the Classic against Lloyds at 2.45pm on Sunday November 9.

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