Three members of Bermuda's national rugby team have been invited to train with Rugby West Indies in preparation for the upcoming Sevens World Series in San Diego.

Bobby Hurdle, Tom Healy and Kris Furbert are part of a 21-man squad pushing for places at next year's International Rugby Board's (IRB) Sevens showpiece with only a dozen spots up for grabs.

Healy, who plays for Renegades, and Furbert, who turns out for Mariners, caught the eye of the selectors after impressing at last weekend's Caribbean Championships.

Teachers' Hurdle, who was unable to travel to the Bahamas for the competition, was picked on reputation.

Rugby West Indies team's first training camp will be held next week in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, ahead of the Caribbean International Invitational Sevens tournament in December.

Should they impress head coach Joe Whipple, the trio could cement their places at the IRB Sevens Series, which runs from February 9-10.

Bermuda coach Lawrence Bird said it was a great achievement by all three players to be invited to train with Rugby West Indies and hoped they could go on and represent Bermuda at next year's Sevens Series.

"In Tom's (Healy) and Kris' (Furbert) case their invitation is testament of how well they played at the Caribbean Championships, whereas Bobby (Hurdle) is already known by the selectors.

"It would be great if they could make the sqaud for the Sevens Series, which is a huge tournament. This really is a great opportunity for the guys. It's a massive commitment and can be difficult for players to get time off work, so hopefully all three will be able to make the camp."

The IRB's Sevens World Series was launched during the 1999-2000 season and travels all over the world with locations including Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia, London, and Scotland.

Scrum-half Healy and forward Furbert helped Bermuda to a 19-14 Plate victory over host's Bahamas in the annual Caribbean Championships last weekend, thanks to a spectacular match-winning try by Healy in sudden-death extra-time.

The Islanders placed third out of four teams in the preliminary round and were then sent to the Plate, beating St. Vincent and the Grenadines en route to the final.

Local rugby resumes this weekend with the inaugural Mariners' Spirit day. Festivities start at 12 p.m. on Saturday with a Mariners 2nd XV taking on a BRFU 2nd XV. It will also feature the Mariners ladies and Mariners 1st XV's playing against select squads.

The 2007-08 Mini-Rugby season starts on Sunday at 10.30 a.m at Saltus School Field, Woodlands Road, for boys and girls aged between five and 13. Children aged under seven-years-old play tag rugby, while controlled contact rugby is played by the older age groups. All youngsters will wear mouthguards and receive team jerseys.

For more details contact Dave Worsfield at bermudarugby[AT]ibl.bm