season, but all that is expected to be forgotten on Sunday when the Blues face Teachers in the opening game of the Sandys Boat Club tournament at the Malabar field (12.30 p.m.).

Police were the only team to offer any real resistance to the Reds during last year's traditional start to the rugby season, forcing a 10-10 draw in the opening game before Teachers went on to smother Renegades (19-0) and Mariners (17-0) to clinch the tourney.

"I just want to forget last season,'' Field declared. "It was not a very good time for me personally or the team. We will strive to do better this year.'' National team scrum half Gareth Davies' presence will be an asset to the side along with Callum Welch and David Lunn.

Danny Cozens' leadership in the pack will be sorely missed as he recovers from off-season knee surgery.

Both Renegades and Mariners are bolstered by new players but it will be interesting to see how those new pieces of the puzzle fit alongside the more established players.

Renegades will be without skipper Gordon Benson, who injured his knee in a jet skiing accident while in the Bahamas, which means that stalwarts Ali Nicoll and Danny Forsythe will have to provide a little more in the pack if they are to restore some dignity to the once-proud club.

Mariners -- based on last season's track record -- could be the team to steal glory away from Teachers, as they did in the Nicholl Shield, an event they won for the first time in team history.

But if any team expects to dislodge Teachers, they will have to shut down an impressive array of backs led by captain Alvin Harvey.

Harvey -- in his third year as skipper -- said he expects much from his team beginning right away.

"We've got a couple of new guys this year, but we will be looking to the guys who have been responsible for our success over the years.

"Scott Correia is with us for another year. He's one person who enjoys the game and spreads his enthusiasm to others.

"We are looking at this tournament as a warm-up for the season. We won it last year but we are taking nothing for granted when we line up against the other clubs on Sunday.'' Peter Borland, president of the Bermuda Rugby Football Union, said the sport's governing body fully intends to focus more on the domestic schedule, which took a back seat to events like the Caribbean championships and World Cup qualifier last year.

"That means the players can spend more time on league play,'' Borland said.

"The new rules regarding rucks and mauls will speed up the pace of the game which will be good for the fans.'' The Malabar tournament will also feature Le Vieux, an American team from Westchester County, New York, who face Old Bermuda tonight at National Sports Club (5.30 p.m.).

The official start of the Amstel League season takes place on October 16, with the league expected to be more balanced -- at least on paper: POLICE: Last year's cellar-dwellers seem to have the ideal blend of new and old to make a strong challenge for the Amstel League and cup honours this year. Skipper Sean Field is back at the helm after a nightmarish first year.

New faces include John Clutterbuck, David Allen, Ian Jamieson, Callum Welch and Alan Oliver. Pack leader Danny Cozens is hobbled by a knee injury he suffered during the World Cup qualifier, but Gareth Davies, who spent the majority of last season injured, is ready to go.

RENEGADES: Fresh from their Bahamas tour, the team has plenty to prove after last season's sub-par showing. Injuries to newcomers Lee Brown, Andy Baldwin and captain Gordon Benson will make things difficult, at least in the early going. However, their pack players -- Ali Nicoll, Danny Forsythe and Dave Taylor -- are more than capable of stealing the show on any match day. New faces include Julian Adams and Pat Marshall, with Brown expected back once he recovers from injury.

MARINERS: Last season's most improved team are eager to silence the critics, and expect to build on their phenomenal success from last year. Keith Beattie has accepted the captain's job and he is in the enviable position of having a large pool of fit players to choose from. Much is expected from backs Dave Conway and Declan O'Laughlin while Rob Cortes and Neil Alexander, who have played on the national team, lead the pack.

TEACHERS: All eyes will be on the squad especially after they dominated the Amstel League so convincingly a year ago. With wingers Heath (Butch) Robinson and Andre Simons and fly half Scott Correia all healthy, the team looks frighteningly formidable. Captain Alvin Harvey has a tall order if they are to repeat or improve on their performance from a year ago. Their pack appears to be their weakest link, and new faces include Noel Capewell, Dennis Cherry and Anthony Cupidor.

Ali Nicoll