South America that will aid them in their future international endeavours, their coach said last night.

Saltus Grammar School teacher Kieran Peacock spoke to The Royal Gazette yesterday after the World Cup seven-a-side squad returned from their qualifying competition in Uruguay on Tuesday.

The side took heavy losses -- 63-0 to Argentina, 59-12 to Germany, and 41-5 and 40-7 to Papua New Guinea -- but Peacock remained upbeat.

"It was a great learning experience,'' he said.

The tournament was "a different kettle of fish'' to the one the Island participated in at Trinidad in November, he continued.

"The standard was vastly superior and that was a bit of an eye opener, particularly for the players who for the first time were exposed to top quality international opposition and realised just how much they have to do to compete at that level.'' Peacock said if the team got fitter -- which was hard to do before the last tournament because many players were injured -- Bermuda would improve.

"We competed but there's no doubt we could do better. All of the players, without exception, would say they were not fit enough to play at that level.'' The style of play was also not what the local players were ready for, continued Peacock.

Sides put on a lot of pressure in defence and employed intense ball retention and recycling, with players forcing half a break and then linking with their support, who would run the length of the field for the score.

"The boys are going to be better players as a result of it and if we went down there in six months time we'd make a better job of it but I guess that's always the case when you do something for the first time.'' The tournament has set the stage for Bermuda's next foray into international competition, the World Cup 15-aside qualifying competition. Bermuda play the Bahamas in Nassau on March 22 -- a team they saw while in Uruguay -- and, said Peacock, "There's no doubt that they actually fancy their chances against us at home. There's an air of arrogance about them.'' The Bahamas gave Bermuda a close call when they faced each other in Barbados during the Caribbean championships, although the latter prevailed 22-14.

"It has given our players quite a bit of motivation now that we know they think they can beat us,'' said Peacock.