Following last week’s update on the World Rugby Classic, www.islandstats.com asked the Bermuda Rugby Football Union’s (BRFU) President Sean Field-Lament, to get an update on both Local and International Rugby for Bermuda.
Field-Lament said, “We are on standby because of COVID19 - We ended last season early and did not have the Nichol Shield or Scully Cup Knockout games. All games since COVID19 regulations have been canceled.
World Rugby and Rugby Americas North (RAN) have issued some guidelines. BRFU is watching how the return to game protocols evolve. We have developed a "return to rugby" plan in conjunction with World Rugby and Rugby Canada Guidelines.
These plans will be sent to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Ministry of Health for review and feedback.
We are hoping to get the plan started later in September/October, with hopefully some games shortly thereafter.
RAN is still holding on to the plan to have RAN Women’s and Men’s 7s in Barbados in November. BRFU had to cancel the game with Cayman to determine who enters the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) this will be rescheduled hopefully.
Gibraltar RFC is scheduled to come to Bermuda in November- however, this is still very much up in the air due to the COVID19 situation globally.
Youth rugby and High school rugby programs will hopefully commence as per normal in the spring semester. Likewise the BRFU Sunday Rugby Program.
The BRFU is exploring an Under 23 Bermuda National team tour, the current group of Under 23 players are special and have been together since former YDO Patrick Callow came on board 8 years ago and worked with U17/19/21 coach Dan Roberts.
They are a tightknit group with excellent skills, knowledge athletic ability, and camaraderie.
The cancellation of the Caribbean Under 19 Tournament this year has left a bad feeling. The BRFU is keen to encourage these promising young athletes to continue the rugby journey together with a view of building towards future senior National team honors.
The BRFU is very excited about further developing Women's Rugby - the desire is to build on the great strides made by Jamie Barnwell, Gemma Godfrey, and Gillian Cross. This is in line with World Rugby's mandate to grow women's participation at all levels in rugby.”
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