The 2008/09 Bermuda rugby season kicks off tomorrow with the Sandys Boat Club tournament at Ireland RFC in Dockyard.

In what promises to be another exciting year for rugby on the Island, Mariners' men and Renegades' ladies will both be hoping to defend their titles in the season opener.

The tournament is run on a round-robin basis, with each team playing each other once.

The team who top the standings after all games will be worthy champions, as it is a gruelling competition with three games of 30 minutes in the men's and three 20-minute games for the ladies.

It will be interesting to see how each team is shaping up for the forthcoming campaign, as the usual merry-go-round will see all sides with a number of new faces.

Another intriguing factor that will undoubtedly have an impact on the outcome will be how each team copes with the new rules, which have been introduced for the season.

In the men's, the new Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), which have been implemented on a global scale, will certainly give the clubs a lot to cope with as they force games to be played at a much higher tempo.

The ladies have also decided to adopt the Federation of International Touch (FIT) rules, so there have been widespread changes in the summer break.

The new touch rules were given a run-out last weekend at the Renegades Beach Rugby tournament at Horseshoe Bay.

Twelve teams from the various clubs on the Island competed in a six-a-side competition, with the Bermuda Irish side coming out on top, beating the Untouchables 8-5 in the final.

In tomorrow's tournament, the first games will see the ladies of Renegades against Teachers, and Mariners against Police, with kick-off at mid-day.

The first men's match will see last season's league and Nicol Shield winners Renegades face off against Teachers at 12.30, followed by Mariners against Police at 1.10 p.m.

The last game of the day is scheduled to start at 4.50 p.m., with Mariners and Renegades men closing out the tournament in a repeat of last season's Nicol Shield final.

Bermuda Rugby Football Union

Sandys Tournament

Tomorrow's games

Men

Renegades v Teachers (12:30 p.m.)

Mariners v Police (1:10 p.m.)

Teachers v Mariners (2:20 p.m.)

Renegades v Police (3:00 p.m.)

Teachers v Police (4:10 p.m.)

Mariners v Renegades (4:50 p.m.)

Women

Renegades v Teachers (12:00 p.m.)

Mariners v Police (12:00 p.m.)

Mariners v Teachers (1:50 p.m.)

Renegades v Police (1:50 p.m.)

Mariners v Renegades (3:40 p.m.)

Police v Teachers (3:40 p.m.)