THE 2008/09 Bermuda rugby season kicks off tomorrow, when the Sandy's Boat Club tournament takes place at Malabar. In what promises to be another exciting year for rugby on the island, the Mariners RFC men and Renegades RFC ladies will both be hoping to defend their titles in the season opener.

The tournament is run on a round-robin basis, with each team playing each other once. The team who tops the standings after all games will be worthy champions, as it is a grueling competition with three games of 30 minutes in the men's and three 20-minute games for the ladies. It will be interesting to see how each team is shaping up for the forthcoming campaign, as the usual merry-go-round will see all sides with a number of new faces.

Another intriguing factor that will undoubtedly have an impact on the outcome will be how each team copes with the new rules, which have been introduced for the new season. In the men's, the new Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), which have been implemented on a global scale, will certainly give each club a lot to cope with as they force games to be played at a much higher tempo.

The ladies have also decided to adopt the Federation of International Touch (FIT) rules, so there have been widespread changes in the summer break. The new touch rules were given a run-out last weekend at the Renegades Beach Rugby tournament at Horseshoe Bay.

Twelve teams from the various clubs on the island competed in a six-a-side competition, with the Bermuda Irish side coming out on top, beating the Untouchables 8-5 in the final.

In tomorrow's tournament, the first games will see the ladies of Renegades against Teachers, and Mariners against Police, with kick off at midday. The first men's match will see last season's league and Nicol Shield winners Renegades face off against Teachers at 12.30, followed by Mariners against Police at 1.10 p.m.

The last game of the day is scheduled to start at 4.50 p.m., with Mariners and Renegades men closing out the tournament, in a repeat of last season's fantastic Nicol Shield final.

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Bermuda Rugby Football Union

Sandy's Tournament

Men

Saturday

1: Renegades v Teachers, 12:30 p.m.

2: Mariners v Police, 1:10.

3: Teachers v Mariners, 2:20

4: Renegades v Police, 3:00

5: Teachers v Police, 4:10

6: Mariners v Renegades, 4:50

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Women

Saturday

1: Renegades v Teachers, 12:00 p.m.

2: Mariners v Police, 12:00

3: Mariners v Teachers, 1:50

4: Renegades v Police, 1:50

5: Mariners v Renegades, 3:40

6: Police v Teachers, 3:40