The Bermuda Under-19 rugby team are targeting promotion at the first time of asking when the compete in the North American Caribbean Rugby Association Championship in Trinidad.

Bermuda will be vying for the NACRA Trophy rather than the NACRA Cup after suffering relegation from the top regional group, having lost all three of their matches at last year’s competition.

But Donal Moynihan, the team’s coach, believes that his side are capable of returning to the top-flight when they face St Vincent, British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos next week.

“We will go down to Trinidad looking to represent Bermuda in a good light,” Moynihan said.

“Last year we went down [to Trinidad] and had disappointing results that didn’t reflect the effort that the guys put in.

“A few wins would be a very good return for the guys. Promotion is our goal so hopefully we can come back to Bermuda with the trophy.”

The under-19s side warmed up for the Champiosnships with a 14-14 draw against the visiting side HMS Argyll at the North Field last week.

Moynihan said that he had seen some encouraging signs from his team’s performance.

“I was very impressed with our performance,” he said “

“We have been training for four months now, running into the bags, and it’s great to be able to get some competitive action.”

Squad: Backs — Calum Maule, Cedric Ennis, Daneko Cann-Hayward, Kamel Easton (captain), Marcus Richie, Peter Calow, Raguel Dill, Rory Crofts, Stephen Edwards, Tez Terry, Tyler Simons, Wendell Anderson

Forwards — Ashton Rubaine, Azzi Mayes, Camren Caines, Grenville Lines, James Patterson, Josh Deallie, Nicholas da Costa, Nicholas Pell, Rory Dublin

Fixtures

St Vincent, July 14

British Virgin Islands, July 16

Turks and Caicos, July 18