Sean Field-Lament, the Bermuda Rugby Football Union president, is excited to see the sport “back on its feet” after taking a heavy hit from the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Men’s rugby has suffered the most to the extent the league was scaled back from four to three teams due to low numbers.

“The men were having a bit of a difficulty in regards to the just the numbers to support the four club format,” Field-Lament told The Royal Gazette. “So we have reverted to a three club format with Teachers and Police and then Renegades and Mariners have combined.”

Women’s tackle rugby has also endured its share of challenges brought on by the pandemic.

“The women’s tackle rugby has suffered a bit with the hiatus and we’re now pushing to bring people back to the game,” Field-Lament added.

“Rugby in Bermuda has gone through a tough time over the last two years but everybody on the island had similar issues. We have stuck with the Government guidelines and now with things heating up, we’re finding that we are getting back to participation.”

Domestic men’s and women’s rugby made a welcome return at the National Sports Centre North Field last weekend, having been suspended after two rounds last month due to Covid-19 related reasons and low numbers among the clubs, with the BRFU reverting to staging friendlies in the interim.

“I’m pleased with the fact that we have resumed a pattern of rugby now,” Field-Lament said. “We have got the league up and running for the men’s and women’s.

“We have the women’s touch league, which is going strong. The men’s league has started and hopefully we ‘ll do a round of three club format and then the last two rounds we can expand to a four club format.

“Hopefully with more participation, and people seeing that rugby is back on its feet and come back to the sport, then we can expand from three clubs to four clubs again.”

Field-Lament is equally as delighted to see women’s and youth rugby thriving.

“The women’s rugby is going very strong,” he added. “There’s four active clubs down there and the actual quality of the rugby is very good. The handling and skills are good.

“Obviously with the long break over two and half years, there’s a bit of fitness problems coming through. But that will come back with people still playing.

“We still have youth rugby on Sundays and we are getting about 200 or 300 children, which is excellent.

“The general message really is rugby is back on its feet and we’re looking to increase participation.

“It’s a fantastic sport and is very welcoming, both on and off the field, through socialising and having fun.”