Eagles to fly in for Saracens tour

Five members of the US Eagles rugby team will turn out for the Bermuda International Select XV against Aviva Premiership side Saracens on May 31.

Derek Asbun, Graham Harriman, Zach Pangelinan, Mike Petri and Nick Wallace will bolster the select team’s line-up for the tour match on the island, which is also expected to consist of Bermuda internationals and Canadian players. Petri, 28, is arguably the standout name, with 31 caps and two World Cups under his belt.

Saracens’ tour will also include community work through school visits, coaching workshops and fundraising activities, culminating with the international match and an international Sevens tournament on June 1 that could see the likes of Lions duo Geordan Murphy and Simon Taylor, along with former England internationals Jamie Noon, Sean Perry and Lewis Moody involved.

Money raised from the tour will go to the Beyond Rugby charity and Bermuda Rugby Football Union.

“Rugby is a game steeped in tradition,” Gareth Nokes, tour organizer, said: “Its players and supporters feel a profound sense of community. These values and traditions develop from the first time a young player shakes hands with an opposite number, leading to a life-long passion for the game at all levels, on and off the field.

“Bringing the Saracens players, many of whom have played at the highest level for many years, is exciting for Bermuda because we hope the workshops and seminars will inspire our youth to embrace the core values of the game. We recognize the generosity of the local and international business community, who have committed funding to make this tour a reality.”