national rugby team now begins looking to the future.

A still beaming Bermuda captain Alvin Harvey yesterday noted the recent triumph was but the tip of the iceberg as the squad prepare for at least two more overseas ventures in the next five months.

In the meantime, several members of the squad will be back in action on Monday as part of the France team playing Celtic Barbarians in the World Rugby Classic that begins on Sunday.

"Yes, we are (still on a high),'' said the skipper during a reception at the Department of Youth Development, Sport and Recreation.

Bermuda battered Trinidad and Tobago 29-8 in monsoon-like conditions in Barbados to claim their second consecutive and fifth overall Caribbean title.

"Having played in the Caribbean Championships before, having played in the World Cup before, we realised what our commitment would have to be, both from the player point of view and fitness point of view,'' said Harvey.

"(But) this is like the first step. We're looking to the end of next year really and hopefully by the end of next year we will have achieved all of our goals.

Bermuda are set to travel to Uruguay at the end of next month for qualifying in the World Cup Sevens tournament, December 31 through January 4.

There they will be placed in a group containing Argentina, Germany and Papua, New Guinea, with the winners advancing to compete in another group and having the chance to eventually move on to the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong later next year.

Harvey was optimistic of their chances, despite some members of the squad being "a bit dinged up''.

"We played in the Trinidad Sevens and got a feel for it. We have a few injuries, so we'll see how that goes, but we have the nucleus.'' Meanwhile, March 22 witnesses Bermuda again on the road, this time having Nassau as the venue for a 15-a-side World Cup qualifier, with Bermuda tackling fellow Pool A rivals Bahamas.

The Classic WHAT: World Rugby Classic WHEN: Sunday through Saturday WHERE: National Sports Club TICKETS: $10 per day or $40 for a five-day pass.

OPENING MATCHES: New Zealand v Argentina (2 p.m.) and United States v South Africa (3.30 p.m.) on Sunday; England v Canada (2 p.m.) and France v Celtic Barbarians (3.30 p.m.) on Monday.

PLAY-OFFS: Wednesday and Thursday.

FINALS: Third-place at 2.15 p.m.; first-place at 3.30 p.m., next Saturday.

INFORMATION: Call 295-8495