Rugby Sevens Team Departs For CAC Games
Bermuda’s men’s national rugby sevens team departs for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in the Dominican Republic, where they will compete from July 25 to 27.
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Rugby Football Union’s Men’s National Sevens Team departs this week for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where they will compete in the 2026 Central American and Caribbean [CAC] Games from 25–27 July, alongside the largest delegation of Bermudian athletes the island has seen for a Games.
“Following the Opening Ceremony on 24 July, the rugby sevens competition will be held at the Parque del Este Soccer Stadium, bringing together many of the region’s strongest rugby nations over three days of competition.
“Having secured qualification through last year’s Rugby Americas North [RAN] Sevens tournament in Trinidad, Bermuda enters the competition determined to build on its sixth-place finish at the 2023 CAC Games and showcase the progress made over the past 12 months.
“The squad will face a challenging field featuring Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, host nation Dominican Republic and Guatemala, with teams initially contesting pool play before progressing to quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches.
“The journey to Santo Domingo follows what many within the programme have described as one of the most demanding and productive preparation periods the national team has experienced.”
Jason Hendrie, Bermuda Rugby Operations Director, said the quality and competitiveness of the squad throughout preparations had been exceptional. “The Bermuda men’s sevens squad have put in an outstanding six to seven weeks of preparation ahead of the CAC Games. The standard at training has been extremely high, with every player pushing for selection, which made choosing the final 12 one of the toughest decisions we’ve had to make.
“While a few players were unfortunate to miss out, the encouraging thing is that many of them are still only 23 or 24 years old. They’re a huge part of our future, and the depth we’re continuing to build gives us real confidence in where Bermuda Rugby is heading.
“Qualifying for the CAC Games through last year’s RAN Sevens tournament in Trinidad was a fantastic achievement. We were also honest in acknowledging that our performances there didn’t reflect our true potential. Since then, we’ve taken a hard look at every aspect of our game, learned from that experience, and worked tirelessly to improve.
“The players are excited for the challenge ahead and are proud to represent Bermuda. We’re looking forward to competing against some of the best teams in the region and showing the progress this group has made.”
For captain Hadleigh Tucker, the opportunity represents another significant milestone, both personally and for Bermuda’s growing rugby programme. “I count myself fortunate to be leading the team to another CAC Games. As a player, I’m excited to be facing new opposition from the Central American nations and, as a Bermudian, I’m proud and excited to be part of a record-breaking contingent of athletes heading to the Dominican Republic.
“We aim to bring back a medal from this tournament and, given our showing at the last RAN Sevens, we understand that it is a tall order. But a big part of our training programme has been belief, in ourselves and in the players around us, and when you combine that with the drive we have as a team and the accuracy we’ve been working towards, the possibility of achieving something special at this tournament becomes much more tangible.”
Among those making the journey is Myles Robinson Dismont, one of the squad’s younger players, who believes the preparation has given the team genuine confidence heading into the Games. “From a player’s perspective, I think I can speak for everyone in saying that we’re really excited to get into it this week. The build-up over the past few weeks and months, in terms of our training and preparation, has been unlike anything I’ve experienced playing for Bermuda. That gives us a lot of confidence in the team, in the way we’ve been prepared, and in the coaching and support we’ve received.
“We know what we’re capable of, and now we’re looking forward to putting that into practice on the field this weekend. We’re excited for the opportunity and hope we can make Bermuda Rugby proud, make Bermuda proud, and make ourselves proud through the way we perform and by showing the hard work that’s gone into our preparation.”
The spokesperson said, “The tournament also marks another important chapter in the continued development of Bermuda Rugby’s high-performance pathway. A blend of experienced internationals and emerging talent reflects the Union’s long-term investment in building depth across the national programme, with several younger players gaining invaluable exposure at one of the region’s premier multi-sport events.
“With belief, momentum and months of preparation behind them, Bermuda’s Men’s Sevens squad now turns its focus to the challenge ahead as they look to compete with the best in the Caribbean and Central American region and return home with a performance the island can be proud of.”
