From across the world they will come, from Shanghai to Northern Ireland, Police RFC members past and present will gather at the team's clubhouse tonight to celebrate 50 years of the side's existence.

Created out of the former Barbarians team, the Police team came into being in 1959 and have been going strong ever since.

The road hasn't always been smooth, and the lawyers, accountants, and others who now play for the team might want to spare a thought, and raise a glass or several, for founder John Logan.

Because they weren't always welcome at the club, and Logan gave up his job with the Service such was his belief that they should be admitted.

Sadly Logan is no longer around, but the other founders, Peter Stubbs, John Allen, and David Lunn are, and they will surely tell tales of his battle with then-Police Commissioner George Robins to get outsiders admitted.

There will be tales too no doubt of the first club tour, when they travelled to Boston in 1972, and Police captain John Williams managed a side that took on Boston Rugby Club and Beacon Hill Rugby Club.

"It was all Policemen, there was only one non-Policeman when I joined in 1965," said Williams.

"And it was significant that one of the founders (Logan) wanted to get more non-Policemen in, but the Commisioner of Police wouldn't let him.

"He had a big up and down with Robins, and in the end he resigned from the Police Force, and in those days that was quite a big thing."

Williams played for the club from 1965 to 1972 when four knee operations finally took their toll.

But his involvement with the club didn't stop there, and in the years that followed he was secretary, chairman, and eventually president of the Bermuda Rugby Football Union.

Williams will be there tonight, as will the likes of Pat O'Riordan who is flying in from Shanghai for the celebration.

O'Riordan, who played for Police in the 1970s, is now director of sport marketing and promotions for Barclays.

Another former Police player, Paul Nethery, who is based in Sydney had been planning to attend, but had to pull out at the last minute.

The family will be represented though, through nephew Matt, who is a member of the Classic Wallabies team that will be playing in next week's World Rugby Classic.

Tonight's festivities begin at 6.30 p.m., at the Police Recreation Club.