Bermuda’s national rugby team warmed for their opening NACRA Caribbean Championship game with a 38-33 defeat to USA South in Florida at the weekend.The Islanders, who take on Cayman Islands later this month, started strongly, pressuring the hosts deep into their own 22 metre area and almost took the lead through David Pringle who was held up just before the try line.Lawrence Bird’s 23-man squad, which included several debutants, fell behind to a try and conversion but drew level almost immediately. Bermuda spoiled the USA South’s ball and managed to create the turnover with prop forward Jahan Cedenio barging past the opposition’s fly half before rounding the full back to score Bermuda’s first try, which was converted by Ian Henderson.USA South were next on the scoreboard with another well-worked try but Bermuda were again quick to respond with a try from Bongani Ndlovu, which Shauntino Simons converted to give the scoreline parity.Henderson added a penalty for Bermuda before USA South added to their score with another converted try.Moments before the interval, Bermuda’s Andre Landy barrelled his way over the line with Simons adding a touchline conversion to leave the score 24-24 at half-time.Both teams rung the changes during the break, which effected the flow of the game and the only try of the second period went USA South’s way.The remainder of Bermuda’s points came from the boots of Henderson and Simons, who struck a 40-metre effort to draw the game level at 33-33.However, with Bermuda’s Peter Dunkerley in the sin-bin, USA South crossed the line for the only try in the second half in the dying minutes.Bermuda begin the defence of their Caribbean Championships title against Cayman Islands at the National Sports Centre on May 19.The Island are scheduled to play four North Zone group games against Cayman and Bahamas; two home and two away. The three South Zone teams are Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad.This year’s Championship winners will advance as the sole Caribbean representatives in the 2015 World Cup qualifiers to be held in England.Bermuda, who are 49th in the International Rugby Board’s world rankings, are the top ranked side in the Caribbean.n Fn Former Wales rugby captain Gwyn Jones is on the Island this week and will be regaling rugby enthusiasts with tales of tries, tours and what it feels like to listen to 70,000 hwyl-filled Welshmen roar you to victory.Jones is the guest speaker at Renegades Rugby Club’s annual dinner on Saturday night at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dingy Club and as well as describing the highs of leading his nation, the former open-side flanker will touch on what it’s like to have it all snatched away in an instant.Now a broadcaster with Welsh-language station S4C and the BBC, Jones was just 25 when he suffered an injury playing for Cardiff against Swansea in 1997 that left him paralysed for five days.A compressed spine meant having to learn to walk again and ending his international career with 13 caps, just as it was getting started.As well as entertaining the crowd, Jones will also be handing out the club’s annual awards which include several MVP categories.Tickets for Saturday night’s festivities are available from Renegades Rugby Club and anyone interested in attending can e-mail social@renegades.bm or call Mike Williams on 533 8735.