Rugby chiefs are taking steps to ensure the long-term future of the game in Bermuda.

As the Island's best known players begin to get on in years, Bermuda Rugby Football Union officials are actively recruiting the youth.

In February, Bermuda Rugby Football Union will be sending a squad of Under-16s to the North American West Indies Rugby Association (NAWIRA) Festival of Youth Rugby.

The event takes place at the Expo Sports Centre in Cocoa, Florida and will involve teams from all over the region.

Would-be players are still being courted by the BRFU and the forthcoming World Rugby Classic will be used as a means of getting the word out, not only to those eligible for the tournament - 15 years old or under on January 1 2003 - but any youngster contemplating taking up the game.

Derek (Bobby) Hurdle, who has a long history of representing Bermuda at international level and is the BRFU's public relations officer, said NAWIRA had invited the BRFU to take part and they were more than happy to do so as it tied in with the committee's aim of boosting youth involvement in the game.

"Everyone who watches rugby knows the same guys have been playing for years and years and they are getting older so we need an influx of youth," said Hurdle.

"Grant (Tomkins, BRFU youth development officer) did a great job a couple of years ago but for personal reasons he has had to step back a bit. The youth programme has been a bit on the downside and we are trying to pick that back up and get more people interested and get more youth to start playing rugby again."

Hurdle said the Festival would include a number of age groups and within them would be country, region, club and school teams.

"We are entering in the schools' section so as not to have the guys who are just starting out overmatched in talent," he said.

"We have a few names now and within the next couple of weeks we will start the training under Grant, myself and a few other helpers."

Hurdle said there was interest among the youngsters, it was just a question of channelling it.

"We saw quite a bit at the sports fair they had at the Number One Shed recently, we got quite a few names from that," he said. "But just from having rugby in the paper or people seeing me in the paper regarding my new position (Governor's Aide-de-Camp) and the fact I play rugby I have had at least four people call me and say `my son is interested in playing rugby. What can I do?' It's good, it's really good."

Those interested in taking up the game of rugby do not need any prior experience as all training will be undertaken by the BRFU.

For more information contact either Derek Hurdle on 292-4352, email number8ibl.bm or Grant Tomkins on 299-4460, email gtomkinsnorthrock.bm.