Former national cricket captain Delray Rawlins is looking forward to showcasing his talent for a new team in the upcoming season.

The star all-rounder made the decision during the off season to leave Bailey’s Bay in search of a new challenge at Southampton Rangers, who gained promotion to the Premier Division last season.

Rangers president Darren “Butch” Burchall recently announced a revamped cricket programme with Clevie Wade rejoining the coaching staff alongside sports chairman Dalin Richardson, cricket co-ordinator Dion Stovell and high-performance director Herbie Bascome.

Rawlins is joining Rangers at an exciting time and is hoping to contribute runs and wickets for his new side.

“I’m really excited to be joining Rangers and obviously it’s something new,” Rawlins told The Royal Gazette.

“I just felt like it was time for a new challenge. It wasn’t the most difficult decision as I had been asked a few times by players, coaches and members around the club. I felt I was going somewhere where I was wanted, so it made it easier to say yes.

“I just want to contribute to as many wins as possible. Obviously you want to win the league and I feel like if I do my part then I can help to contribute to that big goal at the end.”

The move has not come without sacrifice for Rawlins as he must wait a year before he is eligible to play for the side in Western Counties, although Rangers pulled out of that competition in 2025 after organisers decided to stage the series at White Hill Field and not Southampton Oval

Rawlins represented Warwick as a guest player in the competition last season and played a key role in their narrow ten-run win over holders Somerset Bridge in the final, taking three wickets for 17 runs with his left-arm spin and scoring a team-high 33 runs with the bat.

“Delray was instrumental in helping us regain the Western Counties title in a thrilling final against Somerset Bridge,” Warwick coach and club president Lorenzo Tucker said.

“He started at Warwick when he was nine years old and the one thing that I am proud of is that he actually came back home for the last three counties and we do wish him all the best.

“Obviously losing a player of Delray’s pedigree would be hard, if not impossible, to replace but that’s the game ― players come in and out all the time so you just have to adapt and move on.

“But one door closes and another opens because Kamau Leverock is eligible this year and he is obviously an incredible player who can boost our squad with his presence and knowledge alone.

“He’s a valuable member of our squad and then we have some other young players that are now going to be a year better.”

Leverock previously played for Bridge as a guest player in the series but was ruled out last year as per competition rules after joining Warwick from Somerset.

Meanwhile, Rawlins has been named in a senior national team training squad announced by the Bermuda Cricket Board this month for this year’s international commitments.

Bermuda will begin their quest to qualify for the 2028 ICC T20 World Cup on home turf after being granted hosting rights for the T20 World Cup Americas Sub-Regional Qualifier, which will be held at the National Sports Centre from June 19 to 28.

“I’m looking forward to the qualifiers,” he said. “Anytime I get to pull on a Bermuda shirt I get excited, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’ve had a quick peek at the squad and it’s looking pretty good. Now it’s just time to put things and place and get our heads down and work hard to be successful.”

The senior national team will also take on some of the region’s top sides in the North America Cup, scheduled to be held in Cayman Islands from April 4 to 12.