to compete in a Caribbean region tournament.

Four of the 10-man squad picked up injuries in last Sunday's Millennium Sevens tournament and have little time to recover.

Forward Bobby Hurdle has a hamstring strain, while Josh McGavern (hand), Heath Robinson (ankle) and Andrew Correia (thumb) are also on the injured list.

Alvin Harvey, Nathan Brown, Danny McGavern, Rod Stewart, Tom Steinhoff and Jonathan Cassidy make up the rest of coach Phil Heaney's squad.

The International Rugby Board tournament also involves Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica -- all seeded above Bermuda -- as well as the Caymans, Bahamas, Guyana and St. Lucia. The teams will be divided into two pools of four.

The competition is part of the IRB world sevens series and the Caribbean zone winners will travel to Chile in March for the next stage, where the host nation, the US, Canada, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina will provide tough opposition.

PATTON MOVING UP SLG Patton moving up Tim Patton moved another two places up the overall standings at the World Etchells Championships in Sydney, Australia, yesterday.

Patton's 28th-place finish in the fourth race of the series left the sole Bermudian competitor among the 68-boat fleet 23rd overall with two races remaining.

Patton, president of Bermuda Sailing Association, had started the day in 25th place overall after placing fourth in Wednesday's third race.

He now has a record of 25-49-4-28 and is allowed to discard his worst finish.

Patton, who is sailing in Bucephalus with his crew of Mike Hein and Chris Hosking, will continue his campaign in the fifth race today at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.