Rugby star struck by island talent

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 UPDATE: Bermuda’s best rugby players have been put through their paces by a legend of the Sevens game.

Fijian star Waisale Serevi ran through training drills and offered words of wisdom to the Caribbean Cup winning team during a two-day training camp.

The ‘little master’ was in Bermuda as part of the Serevi Rugby programme that is aimed at encouraging youngsters to get involved in the sport.

Bermuda Rugby Football Union chairman Keith Hodgkins said the training sessions on Saturday and Sunday had been a huge success.

He added: “To have someone like Waisale Serevi in Bermuda is just incredible for our team as well as the younger generation of players.

“He took them through a lot of training drills and worked hard on improving their basic rugby skills.

“The guys really took it all in and enjoyed the whole experience.

“Serevi is a hugely positive character and has a wealth of experience that he can share with younger players.

“His visit has proved hugely beneficial for the island’s best players as well as school children and showed those youngsters what a great game rugby is and what they can learn from it.”

Serevi and his training camp team, which includes other international players, arrived in Bermuda last Wednesday.

On Thursday and Friday they worked with more than 50 school children from schools across the island, including CedarBridge, TN Tatem, Mount St Agnes, Saltus Grammar and Warwick Academy at Warwick’s playing fields.

While at the weekend they coached members of the national and under-19 team at TN Tatem School.

Serevi told the Bermuda Sun: “I have really enjoyed my time in Bermuda.

“I have been really surprised by the quality and the commitment that the school children have shown.

“There are at least 10 boys who have the potential to play rugby at a very high level if they are prepared to put in the hard work.”

The Serevi Rugby School left the island on Monday bound for Vancouver in Canada to run another rugby programme for youngsters.

Serevi added: “We have been really pleased with the response the programme has got across the US and now in Bermuda

“Rugby gave me so much as a player I wanted to give something back and help other children get involved in this great game.”