Chile 65 Bermuda 8 Chile ended Bermuda's dreams of qualifying for the 1999 rugby World Cup in Wales when they trounced the Island team 65-8 in Santiago on Saturday to set up meetings with Paraguay and Uruguay.

And in the process they probably signalled the end of the international careers of a number of the Bermuda squad, which is likely to have a much-changed look to it by the time of the next Caribbean Championships.

Bermuda's task, hard from the outset, was made more difficult when Ross Webber was carried off with a leg injury just 20 minutes into the match. Although the extent of the damage is not yet known, it is feared he has ripped ligaments.

Last night he was in a cast and walking with the aid of crutches.

Webber will see a specialist after the team arrive back in Bermuda on an American Airlines flight tomorrow afternoon, following a trip of more than 24 hours.

The fly-half had put the Island on the scoreboard with a penalty shortly before the incident, but that was the highlight of his day as not only was he forced to sit out the resulting humiliation but also the ski-ing expedition his team-mates undertook in the Andes yesterday.

Ironically, it was his replacement, Andrew Correia, who added some respectability to the scoreline with a try five minutes from time. And a superb late run the length of the pitch by Bobby Hurdle was only stopped feet short of the line.

Hurdle's effort was even more remarkable for the fact that he had been hampered by a kick in the back earlier in the afternoon and with Scott Correia struggling throughout with a hamstring problem, it was obviously not going to be Bermuda's day.

BRFU president John Williams, speaking last night from his hotel room in the Chilean capital, was philosophical about the defeat but couldn't hide the disappointment in his voice.

"Chile were a very fit side. We don't have any excuses. They were younger and fitter but not technically better than us.

"I'd love to say the trip had taken a bit out of us, we weren't 100 percent and could have done with another day to prepare, but how much more ready can you be? We were so keyed up to play.'' But he suggested the scoreline had not done the team justice. "I think we were worth a few points more; 50-15 would have been a better reflection of the match. If Bobby had scored that would have been the try of the match. And with the injuries we had ...

"But we're not complaining, they were going to beat us anyway.'' Next up is the World Rugby Classic, but Williams believes beyond that it will be time to start building for the future. "Obviously some of them will go on to the Caribbean Championships but I think a lot of the team have expended their leave and vacation time,'' he said. "I also don't think a lot of these guys will want to play much more competitive rugby. They trained really hard for this and I think we'll now have to get a younger team.''