HE was one of the finest rugby players Bermuda has ever produced. But in 1985 Denton Hurdle was struck down in the prime of his life. Hurdle, a PE teacher at Warwick Academy, had left the island for surgery to correct his enlarged heart. The procedure was successful . . . but he suffered unexpected kidney failure and died shocking not only the rugby community but the community as a whole. He was only 28-years-old.

And ever since his death his rugby club, Teachers RFC, have staged a Denton Hurdle Memorial match against the pick of the Bermuda Rugby Football Union. This Sunday will be the 20th Memorial match ? the first was played in 1986 a year after his death ? and many of his old teammates will turn out geared up to play.

Those who did play alongside the Teachers and Bermuda full-back and winger back in the 1970s and 80s, have aged now and will play in the Teachers Second XV against a President's Select side while the main match will feature Teachers First XV against the Rest. And while many now playing in Teachers First XV probably didn't have a chance to get to know the strong, fast player, they have been steeped in stories about Denton whose nephew Bobby now captains Bermuda's national team carrying on the tradition of his father and Denton's older brother, Derek, who was also captain of Bermuda as well as Teachers.

Ironically Bobby Hurdle will not be playing in Sunday's Memorial game as he is representing Bermuda with the West Indies at the LA Sevens tournament in California this weekend taking on the likes of the All Blacks and Australia.

Bobby Hurdle said before leaving the island for Los Angeles on Monday: "It is a bit unfortunate that I will not be there for the game."

But Denton's brother Derek, 10 years older and now 58 years old, will lace up his boots for the Second team clash.

He said this week: "I have played a few games this season with the Second team. The body still responds ? but not as quickly as it used to! You have to realise that I am nearly 60 years old and I play accordingly. But then again you are only as old as you feel."

Lining up alongside Derek Hurdle in the Second team this weekend will be those who played alongside Denton in both the Teachers and the Bermuda sides ? players like Ron Hooks, Scott and Andrew Correia, Patrick (Chalky) McHugh, Andre Simons and Mike Montgomery.

Bobby Hurdle said: "When uncle Denton died I was 13 years old and was also going to Warwick Academy where he taught. But he taught the senior students ? not me ? but he did keep an eye out for me. He made sure I was not slacking off or anything like that."

Bobby played in his first Memorial game in 1991. "I haven't played in every game since then because one year I was away in Chile and I was also at university from 1993 to '97. But I have played in every other game except when I was injured."

Bobby is also on the committee which hands out the Denton Hurdle Memorial Award.

Bobby said: "The criteria is a big mix actually ? it is not just for sports although you do get students who are very good at sports winning it. It did start out more geared to athletics but now they try and get more student athletes. Basically the award is based on athletics, academics and also what work the student does in the community. It is quiet intense competition for the award ? especially when you look at what these kids have to offer and how completely rounded they are ? it is amazing. It is not your best athlete although sometimes it works out that way."

The prestigious award has been given out to students since 1987. Denton was a 1974 graduate of Warwick Academy and also studied at Dalhousie University in Canada.

Bobby's younger brother Kevin Hurdle, who will be playing for Bermuda next year at the World Cricket Cup in the West Indies, said of his uncle yesterday:"I was nine when he died but he was an inspiration to me. And it wasn't just me that he was an inspiration to but all young people. Besides being a great athlete he was a great person."

Denton's brother Derek said that on Sunday there will be a third match as well ? Teachers Ladies team against the Rest Ladies team.

"And there is a family twist to it," said Derek. "Chalky (McHugh) who played with Denton and will be playing with me in the Second team game on Sunday will have his oldest daughter Sarah playing for Teachers Ladies team."

Derek said he wanted the day's matches to not only honour Denton but also Robert Trott ? a Teachers player who died in 1970.

He said: "As much as it is an occasion to remember Denton we would also like to remember Robert Trott. He died 36 years ago in a bike accident. In fact he is the one which the trophy for the Outstanding Young Bermudian Player of the Year is named for and that is presented at the end of the season by BRFU to the best under-21 player from all the clubs.

"Robert played for Teachers with me ? in fact he was playing for the club before I did. Unfortunately in 1970 he was coming from a PHC football game one day and had a bad crash on Middle Road in Warwick by the Belmont golf course and died."

Ironically Derek Hurdle was the first player to win the Outstanding Young Bermudian Player of the Year trophy.

The weekend's activities start tonight at 6 p.m. at Docksiders where there will be a cocktail party for the Teachers players. Sunday will start with a church service at 8 a.m. at the Bright Temple AME Church and then at 1.30 p.m. at the National Sports Centre's north field the Teachers Second team will take on the President's Select with the Teachers Ladies team playing the Rest Ladies at 3 p.m. and the main match of Teachers First XV against the BRFU XV starts at 3.30 p.m. There will be a post-match dinner at Docksiders at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday evening.