The West Indies Rugby Union has offered the Bermuda Rugby Union an olive branch of sorts when they announced the selection of Bermudian lawyer Dennis William Dwyer to the coveted post of West Indies manager for the upcoming IRB Rugby Sevens competition in San Diego on February 9 and 10.

As reported in The Royal Gazette earlier this week, the West Indies Rugby Union recently announced a 12-player touring squad in which conspicuously Bermuda was not represented.

The tournament has 16 teams from around the globe. The Pool groups are as follows: - Pool A: France, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales. Pool B: Australia, Fiji, Samoa, West Indies. Pool C: Argentina, Canada, Chile, Kenya. Pool D: England, South Africa, Mexico and hosts USA.

The West Indies have an arduous task if they are to realise their first victory in this tournament and will no doubt be looking to get past the initial pool games with some dignity intact as they definitely are the underdogs in their group - featuring former world champions Fiji.

West Indies will pin their hopes on winning the Shield competition in the latter stages of the tournament.

West Indies manager Dennis Dwyer is a popular local figure who in his younger days played rugby for his beloved Yorkshire and then locally with Renegades. During the 70s and early 80s he played for the Bermuda National team and was part of the team that reigned as Caribbean Champions for over a decade.

He took up the referee's whistle when he retired from playing and quickly rose through the Caribbean refereeing rankings until he became number one in the Caribbean.

An honour that earned him the affectionate nick name "Baygon", he continues to be a massive influence in West Indies Rugby and this recent posting is a reflection of his stature.