A feast of running rugby will be on display at the National Sports Centre’s north field on Saturday as the season draws to a close with the annual Sevens tournament.A $5,000 pot and full contact women’s rugby are the new elements planned for the day-long event.

Bermuda’s four clubs will compete with a Bermuda Irish team and the West Midlands Police from England in the men’s tournament.

The Irish team will feature Renegades scrum half Tom Healey’s brother Cronin Healey who plays in Cork and also for the Ireland A team.

And Bermuda Rugby Football Union chairman Dave Worsfold said the Irish are tipped to retain their crown.

“We don’t really know much about the Police side so you probably have to put the Irish as favourites to retain their title.”

The visiting Police side are also due to play a full 15-a-side game against Bermuda Police on Monday evening at the stadium.

The women’s Sevens will feature full contact rugby for the first time as a Bermuda Barbarians side takes on Northern Virginia and Empire City Blues from New York and Worsfold said there was a good chance this aspect of the Sevens tournament will grow.

“Women’s rugby in the United States is massive. Quite often if you go to a rugby tournament in the States there are more women’s sides than men’s.

“There was a lot of interest from New York clubs and some of the other east coast teams. There were going to be three teams coming.

“The ladies have been training for the last couple of months gearing up for this.”

Mariners, Teachers and Renegades Ladies will also be playing a tag rugby round robin.

This year a $5,000 pot will be split between the men and women’s winners.

“The idea is to try to attract more overseas teams — we have had limited success.”

The action starts at 12.30 p.m. and last year it drew 500 people.

A mini rugby exhibition at 4.30 is set to feature kids from the Sunday morning programme which now boasts 175 registered children and a bouncy castle and face painting will also be there to attract families.

The women’s final is set for 6 p.m. and the men’s final at 6.30 p.m.

Worsfold said the domestic game was in good health with Renegades retaining their title in a fairly close league.

However Teachers scooped both the Nicol Shield and the Second Team cup while their ladies won the Scully shield.

The Bermuda national side has its sights on the Caribbean 15-a-side tournament in Cayman in August featuring the island sides, Mexico and possibly a US development side.

A Toronto tour in July is likely to serve as a warm-up said Worsfold who added Bermuda were disappointing last time.

“We are looking to improve on that. A lot of other Caribbean unions have progressed a lot further — they have done a better job of getting into the schools. Maybe they faced less resistance.

“It’s a struggle. People seem to think it’s a dangerous sport. Getting local PE teachers enthused about it is hard work, they don’t feel comfortable teaching a game they don’t understand, which is fair enough.”

The solution could come via a part-time liaison officer said Worsfold. “We have been talking to the Canadian RFU to see if they had anyone but we haven’t had much luck.”

The national side is also exploring the possibility of getting a game against the Mexicans who have just been given full International Rugby Board status.