Rhys Swift and Fergus Wightman are heading out to the United States to represent Bermuda in the International Fencing Federation Junior World Cup in Boston tomorrow.

Swift and Wightman compete in the sabre discipline, which employs a slashing technique with lightweight swords and matches are rapid, requiring agile footwork, fast hands and quick reflexes.

The duo will be accompanied by coach Donald Treanor, who recently represented the Bermuda Fencing Federation at the Veteran Fencing World Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida and the Pan American Veterans Fencing Championships in Montevideo, Uruguay where he won a gold and bronze medal.

Swift, 16, has previously competed at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, London and the Arnold Fencing Classic, Ohio, while the 14-year-old Wightman has flown the island’s flag at the Fairfax Challenge event in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

“It is always exciting to fence against new opponents as they require constant analysis and strategy to figure out their techniques,’’ Swift said.

“The intensity and speed of the matches always dramatically increases in international tournaments as the people you meet there fence almost every day.

“I believe I can put up a fair fight thanks to my coaching from Semos and Treanor as well as the skills I have picked up from the Manhattan Fencing Club, where I briefly trained last summer.”

Wightman is thrilled by the prospects of competing against fencers from different parts of the world.

“The line-up includes athletes from China, US, UK, Europe, South America, all over, it’s a little daunting but I am excited too,” he said.

“Sabre matches are fast – anything can happen.

“Having a mindset that you can win, whomever you are competing against, is important. That is what I am going to focus on.”

“I want to extend my gratitude to Treanor and David Semos who are incredible coaches.

“The developmental nature of the club is such that regularly we will enter bouts against adults.

“I believe that really helps to prepare us well for tournaments like these. I hope to do our federation proud.”

Travis Stevens, of the BFF, the first fencer to represent the island at the World Championships, is optimistic about the duo’s chances of success in the US.

"It is great to see young talent rise to fence at an international level for Bermuda,’’ Stevens said.

“Both fencers are fast and that should count well in their favour given they are competing in the sabre discipline.

“From all of us at the Bermuda Fencing Federation, we wish them all the very best".