Bermuda?s rugby sevens side booked their place at the 2006 Commonwealth Games as they were crowned champions of the Caribbean last night.

A hard-fought win over Jamaica in the semi-finals of the World Cup qualifying tournament earned skipper Bobby Hurdle?s men the title they had headed down to Cayman to win ? and even a hammering by the USA couldn?t take the gloss of the trip.

?I am really proud of the boys,? said Alvin Harvey, who along with Pete Shillingford coached the ten-man squad to their regional triumph.

?This is what we came down here to win and it?s a great feeling. The next two years ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Australia are going to be an exciting time for Bermuda rugby.?

After wins over St. Lucia, Guyana and St. Vincent & the Grenadines, the Island side headed into the final group game with Trinidad &Tobago yesterday desperate for a win and the chance to avoid the US in the competition?s semi-finals.

Despite dominating possession in the first-half, Bermuda couldn?t get over the line and then were stung from the kick-off by their Caribbean opposition ? competitors in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester ? who scored to lead 7-0.

Bermuda regained control but it was only a late try by Greg Garside, converted by Chris Naylor, that tied things up.

The game ended at 7-7 but Bermuda topped the group on superior points difference ? courtesy of first round maulings of St. Lucia and St. Vincent ?

and headed into the semi-final with Jamaica.

Tries by Garside, Andre Simons and Andy Trinder, as well as a Nathan Brown conversion, handed Bermuda a 17-7 victory and the Caribbean title.

The party was somewhat overshadowed by what Harvey described as a ?game too far?, with the fitter, stronger US side picking up a 61-0 victory to claim the 12th and final spot in next year?s World Cup in Hong Kong.

As well as qualification for the Commonwealth Games ? to be held in Melbourne, Australia ? Bermuda have also earned themselves a spot in the Los Angeles Sevens, one of eight prestigious Sevens tournaments on the International Rugby Board?s calendar.

And the Island?s participation is not quite over in the week-long festival of rugby, as two players will now be selected to take part in the West Indies Select side that will take part in the Cayman Sevens over the weekend against worldwide opposition.