Despite a heavy 76-12 defeat to Atlantic Privateers at Flora Duffy Stadium on Saturday, the Bermuda rugby team earned the respect of their Canadian opponents.

Jamie Baum and Myles Dismont-Robinson scored tries for Bermuda, while Hadleigh Tucker kicked in one conversion. Privateers, who were 43-7 up at half-time, notched 12 tries and added eight conversions in the match.

Canada men’s rugby team scrum half Jason Higgins enjoyed the encounter, which brought their Bermuda tour to an end.

“Playing against the Bermudian team was great and good fun,” Higgins told The Royal Gazette.

“There were some great players on that team. They were physical at the start and they kept coming.

“We managed to just stay true to our processes. We respected Bermuda and then we got our tries, trying to move the ball around.

“I thought we played a very structured first half. There was a lot of space out there for both sides and that can bait you into throwing it around and getting a bit loose, but we just stuck to our processes and our training. That is down to our coaches and staff drilling us really well.”

Higgins, who is hoping to be selected in Canada’s squad for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, was awed by Bermuda’s scenery.

“Bermuda is beautiful, it’s absolutely stunning and an incredible place to be,” the 31-year-old said.

“The people are lovely and friendly. I really enjoyed it and I’ll bring the family back, I’m sending all the photos home and they’re jealous.”

Darren Richardson, the Bermuda captain, thought that it was his team’s best display in the four recent matches they have played.

“There was a thing said among us after the game, where we know we played better than we did in Guyana and we beat Guyana,” Richardson said.

“Each game we are getting better and better. It just also means that our opposition is getting better and better.

“We knew going in that this game would be our stiffest test. We really wanted the boys to not so much focus on the scoreline, but focus on small wins and elevating their game.

“Hats off to Privateers, they came down here and they’ve had a good week. They put a score on us and did the same against USA South, but I thought today the game was played in good spirits and there were moments where Bermuda did really well.

“I think the first 20 minutes of the second half showed and anybody on the sidelines would have seen that.

“We do have a bit of an issue where we start slow, so that’s something we need to work on in the off season and get better when the season starts again in January.

“I think for the most part Bermuda came out of this three-game series and can put their hands up to say we did well.

“Each game was a step up in class. A step up against better opposition and we played better and better.”

For Bermuda to improve, Richardson believes that they need to start their matches more on the front foot.

“We leak tries early and then we grow into the game but leaking early really puts you on the back foot,” the 42-year-old said.

“If we can cut that out then we can be in these fixtures for a bit longer. Outside of that, I just want to thank the players, the coaches, the Bermuda Rugby Football Union and everybody at the National Sports Centre.

“All the teams that have come down here have been talking about how great it is to play on these pitches and how lucky we are to be able to have these facilities. When you’re hearing that from countries with deep pockets like Canada, then it’s really great.”

Richardson, who has played the bulk of the minutes in Bermuda’s four matches, made way for veteran Mike Williams towards the end.

Williams came out of international retirement to shore up Bermuda’s front row against Guyana. The 53-year-old missed the clash with Cayman Islands before playing the whole game in the team’s 55-5 loss to USA South.

“I’m delighted to help the guys out,” Williams said.

“They needed some help and the coaches are good friends of mine. I decided to get the boots out of the cupboard, dust them off and give it another go.

“We got that important win against Guyana. Hopefully the guys can learn from the last two games and we can build from here.

“I think we have a good group of players but they just need to prepare better before the international season starts, rather than waiting for it.

“What we learnt against USA South and Privateers is that they’re in a lot better condition than us. I think that’s a big factor and we have to work on our fitness.”

Baum, who did not play against USA South as he was the referee, was pleased with the team’s effort.

“Ball retention from our boys was a lot better and attack was just remarkably improved since our first game in Guyana,” he said.

“There were a lot of positive takeaways from this match. That team was clearly really strong with a few Canadian national team players in there.

“But the boys really improved from when we played Guyana and there are a lot of positives to take out. In particular, my try was epic, which made the game even better.

“One of the problems we have in Bermuda is that we play week in, week out against the same people. That makes it hard to improve as you only get better by playing better opposition.

“The biggest takeaway for me is that we need to work harder and work smarter because we are a small island.

“We need to hold ourselves to a higher level and think about how we can bring ourselves to that next level. I know the boys are capable of doing it.”

Daniel Kunst, the youngest member of the Bermuda team, appreciated the opportunity to play against exceptional competition.

“It’s nice when better competition comes down and they really show us what we’re lacking in,” the 20-year-old said.

“We have a lot to work on, but I thought we played OK compared with other times.

“From this game, I need to work on my alignment especially in defence, really nominating who I’m rushing up on and just having good line speed.”