Bermuda Rugby Football Union (BRFU) officials are keeping a close eye on a potentially explosive situation which could lead to the dismantling of one the Island's four club sides.

According to several sources -- all wishing to remain anonymous -- at least eight members of the Police side, and possibly more, are prepared to quit the league if a player is barred from competing during the upcoming season.

If the players follow through on their threat the current league structure would be in a shambles since it would be all but impossible for Police to field a squad each week.

At the heart of the matter is Deputy Commissioner Michael Mylod's decision to prevent Policeman Dave Bird, suspended by the force during the past two years, from rejoining his team-mates for the start of the season next month.

Bird has been an active participant for both the Blues and Bermuda's national team throughout his current suspension. Players were astounded by Mylod's decision and were angered when he refused to give them a reason why Bird could not play.

Bird's team-mates were reticent to speak on the issue yesterday, but revealed that a report was being prepared to formally ask the Deputy Commissioner for a response as to why the flanker has been dropped from the team.

If Mylod refuses to respond an emergency general meeting of the club will be arranged for September 21 when, according to one player, "our full membership are going to have to make some serious decisions about which way they want this to fathom out.

"But right now we don't want it to seem we're running to the press. (Mylod) is not somebody that we as a rugby section are about to make an enemy of. He is a nice, approachful guy but this has caught us all a little bit off guard and it's left a particularly bad taste. The feeling is that Bird is innocent until proven guilty. He has worked hard to play for us every Sunday and he's gone away and played for Bermuda and done a fine job at that. At the end of the day (rugby) is an amateur sport and if he can't play rugby with his mates then what's it all about?'' Bird's team-mates were informed that team officials "have tried phoning Mr.

Mylod so he could explain what his reasoning is, why he's now decided to do this.

"But he's decided not to talk to us on this issue. He'll speak to us about any rugby matter we want but not about the Bird scenario.'' When one source was asked if it was possible the team could fold before the start of the season he said: "The last thing the hard-core rugby players want to see is the Police section fold, but at this stage I'd be lying if I said that it wasn't an out and out possibility.

"It has to be said there is an amount within the section who would not play if Bird doesn't play. They're adamant that they will not be playing or they will leave the club and go and play for another club.'' The Blues have been a proud tradition on the local rugby scene since 1959, emerging from the now-defunct BAA Barbarians who entered the league 40 years ago. Last season the club re-emerged as a First Division powerhouse, finishing in second place behind Teachers. They also recorded a victory in the Duckett Memorial clash.

Still, Police members are sticking with their training regimen while preparing for the new season. A workout was scheduled for last night.

"I'll bet your bottom dollar that we'll be chatting about it,'' said one player yesterday.

"At the moment this is an internal thing but obviously the repercussions are, if for some reason things go horribly wrong and the membership feel strongly enough that they don't want to participate, the BRFU will be facing the season with three teams.

"We all play this game for fun and suddenly it's taken on another dimension and Mr. Mylod has not just punished Dave Bird he's punished us all.'' When contacted yesterday BRFU president John Williams said that while aware of the Bird situation, he was unaware of just how serious the smouldering issue had become.

In order to defuse the matter Williams, a one-time Police officer and former captain, secretary and chairman of the club, has offered to act as an intermediary and would be prepared to set up a meeting with Mylod. "But only if he wants to meet with me.

"I have offered some advice in relation to the matter to members of the team.

They asked me for that several days ago when this thing came to a head.

"Am I concerned? Certainly I am, but two weeks is a long time and there's a lot of time left before the start of the season.

"The game of rugby football will carry on if the team folds. But I don't think it'll come to that. If they don't play as a Police team maybe they'd play as another team. There's a lot of cooling off to be done and there's a lot of soul searching to be done and a lot of serious sitting down and thinking. I think some of the members are a little hot headed. I've told them not to rush into something.

"The Police department is a disciplined organisation and they have to follow certain rules and certain procedures.'' This isn't the first time a dispute has threatened to break up the Police team. In the 1960s a dispute flared when former commissioner George Robbins declared that non-Police officers could no longer represent the squad.

Meanwhile, the BRFU will be holding a meeting on Monday night when the national squad will be discussed along with an update on preparations at National Sports Club for the new season. It's possible the Police situation will also be discussed.

CENTRE OF STORM -- The decision to prevent Dave Bird (left) from playing for Police this season could spark a major upheaval in local rugby.