mighty Fijians in the curtain raiser to one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world.

The West Indies make their Hong Kong Rugby Sevens debut later this month and, in what will arguably be the highlight of his playing days, Hurdle will captain a squad that also includes fellow Islanders Jon Cassidy and Danny McGavern.

The selectors named the squad at the end of last weekend's Caribbean Rugby Sevens tournament in Jamaica, where Bermuda reached the semi-finals.

Tournament winners Trinidad and Tobago have five representatives, Jamaica have three, the Bahamas two and Guyana and Venezuela one each.

Speaking from Jamaica, Bermuda-based West Indies manager, John L. Williams said he was thrilled with the announcement but added he expected no less.

"I thought there might be one more with an outside chance but it didn't happen,'' he said.

Williams said the players were over the moon at the thought of pitting their wits against the likes of the Fijians and the Welsh in their opening pool.

"They are all very excited, Bobby especially because he has been made captain,'' he said.

"I expected him to be made captain. He did a very good job the last time he led the West Indies and has captained them a few times now.

"He is probably the only natural leader there. He has got the size, the poise, the patience and has got the personality to do it.'' While not knowing what the future might hold, especially for Hurdle who had a stint as a professional with English side Worcester, Williams said he didn't think there would ever be anything to compare with what the players were about to experience.

"I don't think they will ever get anywhere near this exposure for the rest of their lives,'' he said.

That exposure includes around 300,000 spectators who will take in the event live at Hong Kong Stadium and millions of others who will tune in via satellite TV around the world. "You are talking about playing in front of 50,000 people and opening the Hong Kong Sevens against Fiji. What more do you want?'' he said.

The West Indies players will head to Vancouver, Canada, prior to travelling to Hong Kong for a week of intensive preparation.

"Everybody arrives in Vancouver on March 20 and then we get transported to Victoria. We then have a week-long training camp with input from one of the top sports psychologists from Canada,'' Williams said.

"There will also be assistance from the Canadian seven-a-side national team coach and we are also utilising the services of several quality seven-a-side teams to play against us in make-up games.'' The squad leaves Canada on March 26, arriving in Hong Kong a day later for the tournament which runs from March 30 to April 1.

West Indies squad: Bobby Hurdle, Jon Cassidy, Danny McGavern (Bermuda); Andrew Fong, Orlando Jones, Christopher Green (Jamaica); Mugabe Hunte (Guyana); Allan Fraser, Ronald Silverthorne, Brendan O'Farrel, Mark Pindleton and Sean O'Farrel (Trinidad); Jamie Waters (Venezuela); Aaron Turnquest, Jason Miller (Bahamas).

Bermuda go down in sevens semis -- Page 22