Bermuda Rugby’s 2023/24 Season Kicks Off
Bermuda Rugby Football Union [BRFU] announced the schedule for Bermuda Rugby’s 2023/24 season.
A spokesperson said, “It’s October – and that means Bermuda Rugby’s season is kicking off. The BRFU is delighted to announce the return of a full league schedule for the upcoming 2023/24 season, for both the men’s and women’s domestic league, as well as Youth Sunday Rugby for children aged U6 – U16.
“The senior domestic season started strong, with the Mad Hatters Tournament which took place on Saturday September 30, as local clubs Police RFC, Teachers RFC, Renegades RFC and Mariners RFC fielded women’s and men’s teams – as they competed for the Mad Hatters Trophy.
“The women’s game in particular was an exciting competition, with each club having drawn in new recruits and rookies, who used the tournament to expose their rookies to a competitive play environment, in an effort to develop their game awareness and rugby skills.
“In the women’s league, the opening match set the stage as Police dominated Teachers with a commanding score of 17-1, setting the tone for the day’s rugby action. Game 2 saw the Renegades displaying their strength, securing a convincing 21-5 victory against the Mariners, while Game 3 witnessed Police once again delivering a strong performance with a 19-7 victory over the Mariners.
“Game 4 was a close contest as the Renegades narrowly defeated Teachers with a score of 5-0, keeping their winning streak alive. However, Teachers made a powerful comeback in Game 5, claiming a resounding 25-0 victory against the Mariners.
“The pinnacle of the day’s competition arrived in Game 6, where Police triumphed over the Renegades with a score of 10-0, showcasing their resilience and skill – which gave them the Mad Hatters trophy win.
“In the men’s league, Teachers dominated with a score of 28-0 against a combined team from Police, Renegades and Mariners. Each team delivered a strong performance as the men’s game re-acclimates to the rigors of full-contact play, awarding Teachers the victors of the Mad Hatters trophy.
“Looking forward to the rest of the season, domestic league fixtures kick off this weekend at Southampton Rangers S.C. – with an earlier kick-off to avoid clashes with the Rugby World Cup where possible.
“The first round of league games features the following: the first women’s game at 11:30am – Teachers vs. Mariners, followed by the men’s game between Teachers and Renegades at 12.30pm, then the last women’s fixture at 2:05pm – Mariners vs. Renegades.”
BRFU Fixtures Secretary, Conor McGlynn commented, “We’ve tried a different approach this year in crafting the domestic league fixtures, after listening to the local clubs’ feedback on player participation. Rugby on-island is still in a period of recovery – and whilst we have flourishing talent in our women’s touch teams, youth groups and U19 pools, we recognise that there is a lot of work to be done in supporting the clubs as they work to rebuild their player numbers following the pandemic.
“This year’s season will be longer than the 2022/23 season, but with a couple of key differences. The first is in the frequency of game play. Instead of two men’s games per week, we will have one fixture per week, which allows clubs to work together in providing additional player support through sharing players to create a deeper bench.
“The second difference is in the development of a set of community guidelines, which includes a commitment from each of the clubs to adjust player numbers and game time to suit available participation on a week-to-week basis. League points awarded will be the same as a normal 80-minute game, regardless of players/duration. 4 points for a win, with 4-try and losing bonus points applicable.
“At its heart, this agreed approach and togetherness strives to foster a spirit of deeper community within the game. For anyone reading this who may be interested in trying rugby out, we welcome all new players and are committed to linking new recruits with coaches who will help build up their skills and level of comfort in participating.”
The spokesperson said, “On the youth side, Sunday Rugby is also starting up this weekend. Led by a group of passionate volunteer coaches and players within the rugby community, the programme welcomes children of all ages, with no experience required, to pick up a ball and learn the basics of rugby.”
Jeff Sangster, Youth Programme Co-Chair, said, “Rugby is a fun and inclusive social sport and is open to children of all ages to come and try – we guarantee fun and enjoyment from these sessions! The Rugby World Cup that’s taking place currently is undoubtedly an inspiring showcase for young people as they watch teams from all over the world compete head-to-head to be world champions.
“Both of my kids have gone through the Sunday Rugby programme and it’s become a huge part of their lives. We invite all parents to bring their kids down to try out rugby – the first session is on us, just to see if they like it. But in our experience…we think they will!”
