Bermuda's rugby players are gearing up for the chance to represent the country at the 2003 World Cup.

Around 40 players are currently in training on the Island in readiness for the West Indies Championships in November.

The tournament will be used as a play-off for the World Cup and will be held in the Cayman Islands.

Training got underway at the weekend and Bermuda Rugby Football Union officials will be whittling down the initial crop of players over the coming weeks.

"We are confident that Bermuda will do well in Cayman," said new BRFU president John Williams. "Trinidad are our old rivals and they will want to topple us. They have been the better at sevens but I believe we have the edge in the full game. Cayman, who we have always beaten, have a full-time rugby director and are supposed to be better organised. We also believe that Bahamas will make a serious attempt at toppling us."

Williams said the Island certainly had the talent to cause the other nations a few problems.

"Bobby Hurdle and Jon Cassidy should be the driving force in our attempts," he said. "We also have other younger Bermudians like Nathan Browne and the Davidge brothers who are growing in leaps and bounds and we have the welcome return of Pat Cooper the Teachers forward - a former captain."

Several overseas-based players will also be available for selection.

"Both Mike and Ronan Kane, who are currently playing quality Irish rugby, have made themselves available and, if reports from Ireland are good, there is every likelihood that they could represent Bermuda for the first time in an IRB event," said Williams.

The winner of the championships will play the winner of Peru, Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela on a home-and-away basis.

The winner of that will then play Chile and Paraguay, also home and away. "Chile beat us well in the last Rugby World Cup and we have no illusions if we get that far! " Williams said.

"Paraguay and Chile are not far behind Argentina and that is a dream situation to get that far. Based on what we know - if we win in Cayman - we have a good chance of winning the next group. We are optimistic of a Cayman win if we can get some serious playing time in before the event."

With that in mind Williams said he was looking forward to Bermuda's annual gathering of rugby enthusiasts.

"The World Rugby Classic, the week before Cayman, will definitely toughen us and is a great opportunity to jell," he said.