Bermuda Onions Rugby Football Club ("The Onions") will host three matches this evening – all against "The Limeys" under lights at the National Sports Centre's North Field.

Onions provide an opportunity for Bermudian players of all ages to represent the Island and play a representative game in the colours of their country – a chance some of them might not otherwise enjoy.

They are represented by a Men's XV, a Ladies' team and the Under-12s, known as the Shallots.

Today's first game kicks off at 5.30 p.m. and will see the Shallots take on their Under-12 opposition.

The club have always emphasised youth development and are now seeing ranks of both Bermudian and non-Bermudian mini-players growing with the youngsters seen honing their skills on Sunday mornings at Saltus.

Tonight's ladies' game will follow the Shallots, and the evening will finish with the showpiece event featuring the Onions men's team versus the Limeys.

Last year, the all-Bermudian teams won two of the fixtures against their opposition with only the Lady Onions narrowly missing out.

The men's team is coached this year by ex-national team and West Indies captain Derek (Bobby) Hurdle and is captained by Teachers first XV skipper Thomas (Tank) Greenslade.

With Onions putting their efforts into youth development, this year's men's team features seven of the Bermuda Under-19 squad who will compete in the Under-19 Caribbean Championships later this year in Cayman.

Lubin Sousa, Colin and Aldo Campbell, Kai Edwards, Shauntino Simons, Andre Landy and Patrick Richardson will pull on the distinctive pink strip of the Onions and line up alongside Bermuda stalwarts like Alvin (Stone Hands) Harvey, Anthony (Church) Cupidore and Jonathan (Hollywood) Cassidy.

Heath Robinson, president of the Onions club, commented: "Onions strive to allow a representative side for Bermudians and afford them a chance to play.

"We have seen these games play a great role in developing Bermudians since the club was originally formed in the early 1990s.

"We are proud to offer our home-grown athletes this opportunity to succeed and are excited by the continued growth of rugby in Bermuda.

"We are proud to be able to contribute to the development not just of strong, fit rugby players but also model citizens of all ages. We wish to thank all of our sponsors for their continued interest and dedication in to growth of rugby in Bermuda."

Onions' major sponsor is Conyers Dill & Pearman. In addition, sponsors include ACE, C-Mart, Gray & Co and ASW.

Mini-rugby in Bermuda has seen steady growth in recent years and has just received a significant boost the with the addition of the Conyers Youth Cup, which will take place on March 14 and 15, when aspiring young Bermuda-based rugby players will play against Cayman Islands teams.