Teachers Rugby Club coach Chris Naylor has expressed his concern about the dwindling number of male rugby players in Bermuda.

Naylor, whose side have just wrapped up another league title, is sending members of his team to play for rivals Police and Renegades whenever there is a player shortage despite the league being reduced to three teams this season when Mariners pulled out citing a lack of a sustainable player base.

Last week, Teachers players including captain Jakee Simons, were part of a Renegades side that overpowered Police 40-19. The two teams could not field 15 players each and the match was played with 12 men per side.

While celebrating yet another league title, Naylor, a former Bermuda fly half expressed his deep concern for the sport on the island.

“Teachers are celebrating a successful league campaign,’’ Naylor said.

“The caveat to that is that it’s been a challenging season for the three clubs on the island who are struggling with numbers.

“We've been fortunate with probably the most consistent numbers for games. We've had to supplement teams on occasions with players so that games can take place, which is far from ideal.

“There are plans in place to grow the sport and the youth section is quite strong. It’s just a matter of getting the high-school children up to the men’s league.

“Teachers in particular have been the most successful on that for a couple of years. Our team is extremely young and we have players in their early 20s or teens.

“On any given weekend, we’re fielding a team with four or five teenagers in. That’s just the change in playing personnel and that’s how it’s affecting the island.”

Naylor’s side are the dominant team in the league and have ran away with the title this season

“We've been the most successful team, but we lost once against Police,’’ Naylor told The Royal Gazette.

“Our two most recent games have been humdingers to be fair, they've been really good.

“There was a slight concern at the beginning of the season that we were going to roll over people, and we had a couple of big scores over people.

“That changed when we lost to Police before Christmas, then our two most recent games, against Police and Renegades, we were really good.

“Against Police we were clinging onto a hard-fought victory. We were on top at half-time and Police came back at us. They dominated the second half and it was our scrambling defence that kept us in the game.

“Our last game against Renegades was quite a physical affair, a few punches thrown and a few cards shown, but it was a high-scoring game.

“It was great that we managed to have some competitive rugby this season. Although I feel for the players with only three teams in the league as one team has a week off and they sort of lose momentum before they play again.

“Overall, there’s been some top quality rugby. People like Hadleigh Tucker, Jahniko Francis, captain Jakee Simons, and vice-captain Camren Caines have been our standout players.”