The long-term future of rugby union on the Island is expected to be determined in coming weeks.

Like the World Rugby Classic and field hockey, rugby's current home is National Sports Club in Devonshire.

However, the impending arrival of the Montessori Academy at the venue may mean organisers have to look for a new home.

The sport not only uses the field for league games, but also has use of changing rooms and a licensed bar.

When the school, which has bought the premises, moves in in September it is feared these facilities may not be available.

Bermuda Rugby Football Union president Dennis Dwyer said: "I'm actually meeting Montessori school later this week. We have secured our position to the end of the season and they have indicated to us that they are interested in sitting down and talking, so that's what we are going to do.

"We are going to listen to what they have to say and take it from there.'' He went on: "We have been there for a long time and have a long association with Nationals and obviously would like to stay there, but it's a case of what's really practical both from our side and the school's side.'' Dwyer said the school's no-alcohol policy would have to be borne in mind.

"Of course it's one of the factors that we have to take into account,'' he said. "We know what that policy is and that's obviously one of the issues we have to address when we meet them.'' Whereas the Rugby Classic depends on the provision of alcohol to help pay its way, in the case of league rugby it's more to do with winding down after a match.

"It's more on the social scene and I'm sure hockey would share the same view,'' said Dwyer. "We have rented and used the facilities for many years and they include not only the playing pitch and changing facilities but the bar and the cafe and all the other things that are there and that is one of the attractions.'' Asked whether he would be saddened if an agreement couldn't be reached with Montessori, Dwyer said: "Totally. Because of the long history of the relationship it would be a shame.'' He said it was too early to say where the sport might be based if it was forced to leave Nationals.

"We will obviously have to start looking at alternatives but we are just looking to see what they are if the situation down at Nationals materialises,'' said the president.

Dwyer said although the BRFU needed to plan ahead there was no immediate need to rush into anything.

"We have got what we call the summer season, something like five months,'' he said. "The players start training again normally in the early part of August.

But they can train anywhere and most of them train on the beach at the beginning of the year anyway.

"But obviously our season, whilst it hasn't been allocated for next year, will start probably about the last week in September so we need to bring matters to the fore by then.'' The BRFU are currently using BAA Field in Pembroke for a club sevens tournament and Dwyer did not rule out looking to see if the sport could be accomodated there on a more regular basis.

"We are going to explore everywhere. We do have this tournament there and the ideal thing about BAA is obviously the floodlights,'' he said.

"We talked to them and they gave us permission to play this tournament which is a new type for us. It was played there many years ago and the history of rugby actually starts from BAA Field. That's where rugby was basically invented on the Island, so there is a long history of association with BAA.

"Obviously that is one of the few places we could consider.''