The only live rugby Bermudians will see in the coming days is the World Rugby Classic - not the World Cup.

Fans will have to be content with tries and scrums at the National Sports Centre where the 16th edition of the Classic gets underway tomorrow as almost any chance of live satellite coverage from the rugby World Cup in Australia has been ruled out.

This news yesterday was not only a blow to local diehards of the sport but also to the hundreds who have flocked to Bermuda for the week-long Classic.

Owner of M.R. Onions sports bar, Lori Talbot, explained that a joint effort between her business and Robin Hood to pay for live World Cup satellite feed has been scuppered by the Island being outside the satellite zone.

"We were willing to pay to have it because we're both sponsoring teams for the World Rugby Classic but Bermuda is zoned out as far as the footpath for the satellite is concerned.

"Therefore, unfortunately, no-one in Bermuda is going to be able to show the rugby World Cup live. Any taped-delayed games that come on via other satellites, we're going to pick them up and show them but, more than likely, it will not be until two or three days after," she disclosed.

The California-based company which was organising the feed - Setanta Sports - has been trying to get the satellite footpath "extended a little bit past Bermuda" but, noted Talbot, "at this point it's looking very grim".

This is very disappointing to the rugby fraternity who were hoping to revel in live action here and from Down Under.

"We had teams and the people who organise the rugby here calling us all week to see when we were showing the World Cup.

"There's a lot of people involved so it's quite sad that we're not able to get it," said the M.R. Onions boss, adding that the two companies were willing to spend "quite a few thousand (dollars)" to secure World Cup coverage.

However, she stressed there is no such problem with the feed for today's crucial Euro 2004 qualifier between England and Turkey from Istanbul. That football game can be seen live from 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Classic All Blacks, who are sponsored by M.R. Onions, are ready and raring to go tomorrow in their opening fixture against the USA.

Senior player of the New Zealand team, Steve McDowall, said having the Classic at the same time as the World Cup has had a mixed effect on the composition of the All Blacks.

"It was a very hard selection because of the World Cup. We had a lot of ex-players who couldn't make it this time but the guys we've got have been at the top of their league and we have a mixture of young guys - say around 33 or 34 - with some older ones in their late 30s to 40s.

"In the past we were on average the oldest team because we had guys nearing 50. This year we're a little younger and a bit more vibrant. It's a good team and we're quietly confident we will perform much better this year than we have done previously," said McDowall, a front row forward who played 46 Tests for the Kiwis from 1985-92.

"We've selected a team with a lot of utility experience. They can play in several positions and that suits our style."

The former international picked the Barbarians - the reigning champions - and the Argentines as the ones to beat, noting though that the Barbarians might be somewhat vulnerable since many of their regular stars are attending the World Cup.

"The Argentines are an outside bet. They play well and they have won in the past. We have to be careful with them."

There is one other 'enemy' which McDowall, who was enjoying a drink with his team-mates, quipped could derail his team.

"The Bermuda Dark n' Stormy - that's always a nightmare for us as well."