Bermuda will not have an Island team to cheer on in this year's World Rugby Classic.

Organisers have extended an invitation to Italy to take their place in the main event and that means Bermuda's players will have to make do with a cameo role in the annual November clash of the game's former greats, the Royal Gazette can reveal.

The move came as news to many individuals connected with the sport on the Island, and a formal response from the Bermuda Rugby Football Union (BRFU) is expected today.

Italy's inclusion in the event, held for the first time last year at the National Sports Centre on Frog Lane, means all countries competing in Europe's Six Nations tournament will have been represented on the Island at one time or another.

Event President John Kane said: "The Italians, playing a similar game to the French, will be a most welcome addition to the Classic lineup, but, with all the other teams confirming participation, Bermuda will be moved out of the Classic competition itself."

Kane said there was a good reason for the decision, and one that he hoped would benefit the Island in the long term.

"In the early days of the Classic the Bermuda national team had a good number of players over the age of 33, while there were also a good number of `veterans' still playing rugby," he said.

"Things have changed in the past few years and the result has been that we have lowered the age limit to allow some of the Bermuda players to be involved.

"But this has meant that many of the national squad members couldn't play in the Classic because of their age."

Another predicament reared its head at last year's event, Kane said.

"We had a situation where Bermuda was involved in the Caribbean Championships on the day of the Finals and had Bermuda won its semifinal Plate match then the team which would have gone out in the Final would have been a vastly different one.

"This would have not have been a fair situation for anyone."

Kane said Bermuda still had a role to play in arguably one of the biggest sporting events the Island has to offer.

"We believe that the Bermuda national team should be playing against top class competition from North America during Classic Week and the attraction of playing before a big crowd, as part of the overall Classic programme, and also being able to watch the Classic teams in action, will be a big incentive to an overseas team," said Kane.

"This can only be good for Bermuda rugby as competition against overseas teams in Bermuda has always been an attractive proposition and it will give all the top players on the Island something to look forward Kane said there was also the possibility of the clubs being involved in games against overseas teams at Montessori field - the former home of the Classic.

"With Italy in the tournament, the Bermuda national team involved against quality opposition and the news that England and the USA will revive their Millennium rivalry in a women's international the 15th World Rugby Classic is starting to take on a very attractive shape," the President said.

What do you think? Should Bermuda be forced out of the Classic proper or would you have rather see the event restricted to top class nations? Write to Sports Mailbox with your views or email sportsgazette.newsmedia.bm.