BERMUDA is to host its first international lacrosse tournament in June as the sport, which only got going here six years ago, goes from strength to strength.

Organisers are hoping to attract four teams from Canada and Washington DC to make up a six-team tournament at the north field of the National Sports Centre.

The two-day event, from June 14-15, will feature Bermuda's men's team as well as the island's Under-19 team which will need the warm up before heading out to the World Championships the following month in Coquitlam, British Columbia.

Bermuda Lacrosse Association President Michael Totman said the growth of lacrosse, which started with a few enthusiasts scrimmaging, had been remarkable with 50 players now on the roster and regular trips overseas for tournaments.

The association has a sophisticated website complete with merchandise for sale to help fund the youth programme and video footage in a multimedia section.

Indeed Bermuda's progress is getting worldwide notoriety with Inside Lacrosse, an affiliate of ESPN, running a story on Bermuda's growing success in a story online and in their April 2008 issue.

Bermuda Barracudas, as the national side is known, normally play in the US each year and the squad is due to head to a tournament in Newport, Rhode Island at the end of July. The adult side is aiming for another World Championships in 2010.

"Over the last two years since we went to the World Championships in 2006 it has grown pretty strong. This year we started a youth programme with the Under-19s ¿ an all-Bermudian students side who picked up the game while they were overseas," said Totman.

There is a lacrosse outlet which started this year at the Bermuda High School for Girls and wives of male devotees of the sport started a branch last month which now already boasts 35 players.

"It is surprising how quickly it has grown," said Totman. "People don't really know what it is on the island but once they see it and how fast pace and physical it is people like it."

Totman, 29, from Boston, arrived in Bermuda just in time to play in the Worlds two year's ago which was an eye-opening experience.

"It was a shock to us. We didn't know what to expect going in. It was the first time many of us had ever competed at that level.

"We had a few players on the team who had actually never played in a lacrosse game before. They were practicing with us fine but they had to play against people from countries which have had established programmes in their countries for years.

"The same tournament that Team US and Canada who are the main two in lacrosse who go at it every year for the championship who have world renowned professional players who are paid tons of money to play the sport. Yet here we are, a bunch of volunteers from Bermuda trying to compete against these guys."

Not surprisingly Bermuda won no games. More surprisingly the island held its own with respectable scores against four European teams. "All the games were very close. Our first game was against Denmark and we lost 10-6 ¿ we were competitive."

With an average age of 35 the team also had a disadvantage against much younger players who had just left college.

"It was an incredible experience and we definitely learned a lot for the next one coming up and we can pass on some of that to the Under 19s."

Considered to be America's first sport, originated among the North American Indians, lacrosse was christened by the French, and adapted and raised by the Canadians. Here it is played mainly by Americans, Canadians and Bermudians.

Played with a stick with a net pocket on the end, Totman said the sport had many of the best attributes of other great sports including ice hockey, football, American football and basketball.

"It's sort of like hockey in the air. We have had quite a few Irish guys get involved because it is so much like hurling. I love the fast pace of it, the quick scoring and the physical contact."

l For more information go to www.BermudaLacrosse.com