semi-professional rugby next month with English club Worcester.

The 28-year-old second row forward, who led Teachers to the Beck's League title last season, has signed a one-year contract with the Division Two outfit.

Hurdle attracted strong interest from the club when he played a four-game trial with them in April, but only in the past week was the contract signed and sealed.

Bermuda national team coach Pete Shillingford, whose brother Neil helped Hurdle make contact with Worcester, said he was delighted that Hurdle had finally made the breakthrough.

"I think he'll do very well. I think he needs to get over there and play and train with a better side,'' said Shillingford, who performed the role of player/coach at Worcester following a 10-year career at Moseley. "He's good, he's fit, he's a big lad and he's very good at taking advice and is a quick learner.

"I've got a good feeling that he'll do very well indeed.'' An added advantage for the Bermudian, who plays either second row or back row, is the fact that he will be able to take in the entire pre-season training regimen and get familiarised with the English game.

"Obviously it's going to take a while (to get adjusted), so the good thing is that he's going over early, giving him two months of pre-season training with the guys,'' added Shillingford.

"If he was going over during the season it would be much harder, because they will have established a routine, making it difficult to break into the side.

But at the moment, he'll have eight weeks and everyone will be in the same boat for pre-season training, so he'll be going through all the moves, all the plays, etc, which will be beneficial to him.

"It will give him a good insight early on and also give Worcester and their coach a good idea as to what he can do.'' It has long been Hurdle's ambition to break into the ranks of professional rugby. Two years ago, he was invited over to England for trials with Worcester, but his chances then were scuppered when he broke his collar bone two weeks before he was due to go.

Shillingford advised Hurdle not to be overawed by the fact that he is now entering the `big league', but to take it in stride and be confident in his ability to perform well.

"I've told him not to think this is above him, that he's good enough to play at this level and to understand the opportunity and the duties of the job, that if there's something wrong to speak out and put things right.

"Rugby is a team effort, so he needs the support of the players around him, just as he needs to support those players.

"He also must enjoy it, because that's what it's all about. You are on a professional contract, but it can be enjoyable as well, especially playing at a lot of big grounds, a lot of good rugby, and there's potential for him to go further.'' Derek Hurdle: one-year contract.