fame in a triangular tournament involving two other nations from the Caribbean region.

Officials are planning a youth competition to run alongside the next Caribbean Championships in the Bahamas next October.

It would give Island youngsters a first taste of international competition and put them at the forefront of world governing body the International Rugby Football Board's plans for a Caribbean side to represent the region at the 2003 World Cup.

The idea was discussed by the coaches and youth development officers from the respective nations during last year's tournament in Trinidad and is now being put into action. Bermuda were unable to defend their title there because the 1999 World Cup qualifiers had drained the BRFU's financial reserves.

Bermuda's opponents in the under 16 competition would be the hosts and the Cayman Islands.

Youth development officer Grant Tompkins said: "During the championships, Trinidad RFU put on two youth games at under 16 level. All who were privileged to watch were impressed by the standard of rugby on display.

"Many of the delegates from around the Caribbean came from these games with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and a stark awareness that as individual unions we have to develop our youth programmes now, or get left behind.

"From a Bermuda perspective, it is imperative. We tend to look down on our Caribbean partners as being of a lower standard. This will not be the case for very much longer if we continue to ignore our youngsters, who are crying out to play.

"Trinidad have had a youth development officer for two years and the standard of the games was excellent. Bermuda are a better team at senior level and given 12 months coaching we will be up there with them at youth level too.

"The lads starting now have the opportunity to be at the front of any future West Indian side.'' The plans for the development of that side, which it is hoped would strengthen the challenge from the region as well as spreading the popularity of the game, are also likely to make further progress at the Caribbean championships.

John Bates, the newly-appointed development officer for the region, will visit the Island and its Caribbean neighbours over a four-month period before reporting his findings to the world governing body, which is based in Ireland.

Sticking points such as financing and the co-ordination of coaching and training will need to be addressed.

Meanwhile Bermuda's youth team are set to get their first competitive rugby when a Boston school -- Brookline High -- makes a short tour of the Island in late April.

They hope to play three games during their six-day stay -- with one match against Saltus Academy already confirmed.

The BRFU's youth coaching programme has just started and Tompkins is urging any youngster interested in taking part to go to the National Sports Club on a Saturday morning at 10.00 a.m.

He said: "The programme is designed to get them playing safely and competitively as soon as possible. In as little as two years, when these youngsters are playing for our clubs, we will begin to see the benefit.

"Our goal as a youth programme must be to produce a pool of youngsters ready to play rugby at 18, who are keen and well grounded in all aspects of the game.''