The Bermuda Under-19 Rugby squad will head to Barbados today to compete in the Rugby Americas North Under-19 Championship.

Also competing at the regional tournament are Cayman Islands, USA South, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica.

After taking a break from the Championships last year, the squad is looking forward to getting back to competing among the elite level in the region.

Dan Roberts, the Bermuda Under-19 head coach, said: “We took two squads [under 16 and under-18s] to Toronto over the Easter break, playing Trinity College School and local club team, Toronto Saracens, which was really helpful to get some

valuable game time for a wide range of players.

“Since then, we’ve gone from strength to strength and have seen our squad has changed with some players who overseas for school coming back and challenging for places”.

Players such as Jamin Hodgkins, Khabir Dill and Alex Doyling have been welcome additions and added a wealth of experience.

The tournament format is different from previous years with shorter games and two games per day will certainly challenge the squad.

“This will be a squad effort, all players will need to step-up with the volume of games and quick turnaround,” Roberts added. “It will be a challenging set-up but, something we’re really looking forward to.”

The tournament runs from Thursday to Sunday and games can be viewed live online at: www.rugbyamericasnorth.com.

TEAM

Tyler Kendall — captain (Teachers/McMaster Canada)

Ja’kee Simons — vice-captain (Teachers / Berkeley)

Alex Doyling (Teachers/Kutztown College USA)

Jake Field (Police/Saltus)

Jamin Hodgkins (Mariners/Shawnigan Canada)

Alex Whalley (Mariners/MSA)

Miguel Postlethwaite (Cedarbridge)

Shane Richards (Mariners/Berkeley)

Matthew Daniels (Mariners/Warwick Academy)

Ben Crayford (Mariners/University of Leeds UK)

George-Hilton Peets (Teachers/Berkeley)

Cairi Albouy (Teachers/Berkeley)

Khabir Dill (Campbell College, England)

Tommy Westhead (Renegades)

D’Zuri Gill (Berkeley)

Matisse Bascome (Mariners/Warwick Academy)

Moses Simmons (Teachers/Berkeley)

Nathaniel Simmons (Southern University USA)

Paulo Sousa (Mariners/Cedarbridge)

Sylas Young (Mariners/Bermuda Institute)

Jaden King (Berkeley)

Isaiah Rickards (Dalhousie Canada)

Conor Somerville (Saltus)

Chaziah Brown (Mariners/Bermuda Institute)