Bermuda’s youth teams have upcoming tours to England and the Bahamas before the under-19 side travel to Miami for the Rugby America North Championships in June.

The under-9, 10, 11 and 12 teams head to England on Thursday for a four-day tour, visiting Aviva Premiership side Saracens’ training academy with a dedicated session with the European champions’ professional coaches.

They then face games against Lincroft School at Bedford RFC ground on Saturday. The players will be treated to the Saracens-Bristol Aviva Premiership game at Allianz Park.

The Sunday will see all the Bermuda youth teams participated in the annual Cambridgeshire Youth Rugby Festival. Bermuda have finished runners-up in the under-12 and under-11 competitions in the past two years.

“Hopes are a high as the touring party of players and parents of 89 is replete with experience and talent,” Bermuda Rugby said in a statement.

“Forty-eight players is the largest pool Bermuda has ever taken. Months of planning, preparation and fundraising has ensured a well-organised tour that will be a truly memorable time for all.”

The Bermuda Under-13 and Under-15 will head to the Freeport Youth Rugby Festival in Freeport, Bahamas, from May 11 to 15.

Meanwhile, the under-19 team of 28, who will head to Miami from June 14 to 23, includes several talented newcomers.

Fresh from a successful Ariel Re High School competition, the team have high hopes of competing with perennial powerhouses USA South, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico and Cayman Islands.

Sean Field-Lament, the Bermuda Rugby president, is enthusiastic about the strides youth rugby has made in recent years on the island.

“The hard work and dedication of the youth committee under the leadership of chairman Gareth Nokes and youth development officer Paddy Calow cannot be praised enough,” he said.

“It looks very promising but more importantly these youngsters are learning all about the positive core values of rugby — teamwork, discipline, respect and, most of all, enjoyment.

The Bermuda rugby calendar culminates later in May and June with the senior men’s national team hosting Mexico and Cayman Islands before visiting USA South.

For more details on Bermuda Rugby contact Patrick Calow at pcalow@brfu.bm