There will be more at stake than just local pride when Bermuda's rugby players travel to the Cayman Islands for the Caribbean Championships later this month.

The event will also double up as the first step on the road to qualifying for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, with the winners of the championships going on to a play-off against the winners of the South American Division B Championship which includes the likes of Colombia, Venezuela, Paraguay, Brazil and Peru.

There are just two qualifying places available for an Americas region that also includes the likes of USA and Canada.

Bermuda play the Bahamas in the first round of the championships on April 20, and should they win that game, will then face a semi-final three days later, and possibly a final on the 26.

The championship will be kicked off by hosts Caymans playing Trinidad and Tobago, with other games featuring Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados and Mexico.

The decision to combine the championship with World Cup qualifying is part of the International Rugby Board's (IRB) attempt to streamline the qualification process by incorporating existing tournaments around the world.

"Wile planning is well under way in New Zealand to host the World Cup in 2011, the 2008 Caribbean Championship in the Cayman Islands will be the first step for a number of unions on their road towards the 2011 tournament," said an IRB spokesman.