January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Youth will be served in rugby 7s tourney
A host of new recruits have been called up to add pace and energy to the squad in the physically intense shorter format.
The Bermuda team will play a minimum of six games in two days - with sides playing fast, running rugby over short, sharp, seven-minute halves.
Senior player Jonathan Cassidy, a former West Indies Sevens star, said that while world class stars of the past were attracting all the attention at the Rugby Classic this week, Bermuda would be looking to the future.
He said the team was starting to see the benefit of the work done by the likes of Keith Hodgkins, who set up an after-school youth programme at Warwick Academy around five years ago, to bring through young Bermudian talent.
He highlighted 21-year-old Tom Edwards, who is currently playing at Reading University in England, Kris Furbert, 19, currently on a gap year and playing for Mariners, Ian Scotton, 21, Tom Greenslade, 23 and Andrew Borland, 23 as serious prospects.
The likes of Cassidy, skipper Derek 'Bobby' Hurdle, Harry Andrews, Greg Garside and Chris Naylor, who were all part of the Bermuda team which won the Caribbean portion of this tournament in '04, add a blend of experience.
Bermuda kicks off against hosts Barbados on Saturday morning and will also face St Lucia, St Vincent and Guyana in Pool A of the initial group stage.
The top two from the three pools on day one, go forward to compete for the cup, while the eight remaining teams compete in a knockout format for the 'plate' and 'bowl' competitions.
Cassidy said his side would have to play a clever, physical game to make up for what they lacked in pace compared to some of the other sides.
"The game is much more open and anything can happen. You need to retain possession and move the ball about - there's less rucking and mauling, few scrums and line-outs. The ball is in play the whole time, so you have to be fit.
"The other teams will be trying to use their pace advantage so we will have to be clever and rely on our skill and experience."
But he said Bermuda had every chance of finishing in the top two in their group and going far in the competition.
"We've got a strong squad and we think we have every chance to do well."[[In-content Ad]]
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