"Mini-rugby rocks" proclaimed a sticker in the car's rear window, and judging by the enthusiasm, energy and esprit de corps generated on the Saltus Grammar School field on Sunday morning, it's no empty boast.

Using the World Rugby Classic as the kickoff point, the mini-rugby and youth rugby programmes of the Bermuda Rugby Union run from mid-November until late March with a break over the Christmas holiday.

Training, practice and games are held on Sunday mornings from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., the activity depending on the age group.

Mini-rugby age groups are under seven, under eight, under 10 and under 12.

Those over 12 form an under 14 youth division.

The kids — mainly boys, but some girls — are from all over the island, with almost every school, public and private, represented.

The Sunday that The Royal Gazette turned up was the first session after the Christmas break, and almost 200 youngsters were involved in a variety of warm up games and physical fitness and skills training.

So involved were they, it was hard to conduct interviews except in short snatches.

11-year-old Danar Johnson, a student at Sandys Secondary Middle School, had only been playing for five weeks, but was so far impressed with the game.

"I think it's fun," he noted. "I like to tackle people. It's good to do something instead of sitting around the house."

Brendan Barritt, who attends Saltus Grammar School, has been playing for two years.

He got involved because "some of my other friends did it and said it was fun, so I thought I might try and found it fun too".

It was so much fun, he signed up for a second year: "I like running around and tackling people. It's a lot of activity. It's really fun."

While "fun" and "tackling" seem to be high on the list of incentives for the kids, parents interviewed were impressed with the organisation and commitment of the coaches.

Sean Kelly, an ex-player and parent, commented: "Rugby's a bit of elegant violence. I had good experiences and I want to give (his son) Tyler that opportunity.

"Tyler is very physical and does a lot of sports. Rugby is one he really enjoys.

"There's lots of discipline involved, but they have a lot of fun. The coaches are very good."

In fact, family tradition seemed important to a number of the parents interviewed, and parent Graham Foster observed that a lot of the dads once played themselves.

Five-year-old Ethan Edmunds is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Stuart Outerbridge.

His mother, Lisabet Outerbridge said, "I grew up with rugby, so it seemed a natural thing to try. Ethan enjoys running around. It's fun, there's a warm atmosphere and all the volunteers work really, really hard."

After the Christmas break, while the younger players focus on continuing to develop their skills, the under-10s and 12s are put into teams and play in a league.

The smaller number of under-14s are put into two teams on a weekly basis, with players rotating through the teams so that they learn to work with all players in their age group.

The goal is to develop a national youth side to play visiting teams. There is also the opportunity to tour overseas.

In 2007 a team travelled to Guildford, England and in 2008 they played in Cayman Islands.

Thanks to sponsorship, and coaches volunteering their time, the programme costs are kept to a minimum. Registration is $10 for the whole season, and shirts are provided courtesy of sponsors ArchRe, ACE, CD & P and KPMG.

Players must buy their own boots and the rest of their kit, but as young people grow out of their boots so quickly, there is the opportunity to swap out boots for a larger size from a pool of used boots.

For further information and to register, visit the Bermuda Rugby Football Union website www.bermudarfu.com or unionrugby@bermudasports.bm.