Bermuda have announced their squad for the men’s XV Caribbean Championship game against Cayman Islands, which takes place in Grand Cayman tomorrow.
Coming off the back of two losses, Bermuda will be facing tough competition from their fierce rivals, but head coach Peter Lewington has opted to leave the side with few changes with only one rookie, Dan Pell, being named to his line-up.
“We know that the game against Cayman will be extremely competitive and whilst we have not done as well in our two previous matches as we had hoped, I have every faith in the abilities of the team that we have announced,” Lewington said.
This game will see the return of veteran backs Corey Boyce and Dan Cole after they were both unavailable for selection in the game against Trinidad and Tobago.
Veteran forward Tashon Desilva will miss the game due to an injury he sustained in the game against Trinidad, so stepping in his place will be Police player Darren Richardson.
This is a must-win game for Bermuda as if they suffer a defeat in Grand Cayman they will be relegated to a lower tier in the Caribbean Championship tournament next year.
“Right now our focus is winning the game against Cayman,” Lewington said. “I have previously spoken about the three-year plan and I think we are well-positioned and on track whatever the outcome of the game on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, local senior referee and referee coach John Weale has been selected by Rugby Americas North to represent the region at a World Rugby workshop in Paris, France this weekend.
Weale, a Bermudian and 22-year veteran of refereeing rugby on the island and around the world, said: “I am incredibly honoured to have been selected to represent the entire region, which comprises the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, at this event. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with Paddy O’Brien and Craig Joubert who oversee refereeing for all major World Rugby 7s events including the World Cup, the Olympics as well as the HSBC World Sevens Series.
“This is the first time a Caribbean official has been selected and it is something most referee managers/coaches never get the chance to experience throughout their career as a rugby official, so I am extremely humbled and privileged.”
The event aims to bring together the top rugby officials from around the world to have a forum on best practice for managing high-performance sevens referees. It takes place in conjunction with the final leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series, in Paris from today to Sunday.
Sean Field-Lament, the BRFU president, said: “Having represented Bermuda and the region on the field of play as a referee for so many years, it is great that John is now getting recognition for his passionate work behind the scenes as a referee coach/manager.
“With John being selected to represent the region it is a testament to the programmes we have in place which focus on developing top local rugby officials.
“It also highlights the avenues and opportunities that exist for our local officials to be involved with officiating rugby at the very top level.”
Bermuda squad Pernell Brangman, Thomas Greenslade, Peter Dunkerley, David Rourke, Dan Pell, Darren Richardson, Aldo Campbell, Jahan Cedenio, Brian Archibald, Nigel Burgess, Michael Williams, Jahniko Francis, Phillip Hall, Thomas Healy, Conor McGlynn, Alexander Brown, Conor McGowan, Corey Boyce, Mikle Dill.
