Ben Gollings, the England sevens legend, has paid a timely visit to Bermuda as part of the Serevi Rugby coaching team.

Gollings, the first sevens player to score more than 2,000 points, will help coach junior male and female players as well as the senior players, many of whom were involved in Bermuda’s 56-9 defeat by Mexico at the weekend. The coaches will also visit several schools across the Island during their four-day visit.

Bermuda, whose squad will meet with Gollings tonight at the North Field, suffered a crushing defeat by a much improved Mexico in their International Rugby Board friendly in Dio Rios, Huixquilucan. Missing several key players, Bermuda struggled to cope with the high altitude in their final warm-up game before they start their North American Caribbean Rugby Association Championship against the USA South in Atlanta on May 10.

A well-drilled Mexico side held a month-long training camp prior to the match and it showed with the home side taking the lead through fly half Miguel Carter with a drop goal.

The visiting side pulled level when Tommy Edwards kicked a penalty goal before Richard Cumbers converted another penalty goal after a high tackle on Edwards to give Bermuda a 6-3 lead.

Carter then kicked his second penalty goal to give the scoreline parity, although Bermuda regained their advantage when Cumbers landed a long-range penalty goal.

Moments before half-time, Mexico scored the first try of the game to take a 13-9 lead at the interval.

Mexico stepped up a gear in the second half, adding a second try with Carter kicking a difficult conversion. Minutes later Bermuda fell further behind when the impressive Christian Henning created an opening with a deft chip that his centre partner, Pascal Nadaud, collected to score between the posts to make it 27-9.

The unstoppable Henning then scored his side’s third try, punishing a flat-footed Bermuda with a sublime inside step. With score at 34-9, the game was pretty much over as a contest and Roedolf van der Westhuizen, the Bermuda coach, having little options but to clear the bench in an effort to stem the flow.

It made very little difference, however, with chief tormentor Henning scoring again. Mexico’s scrum half then Lucas Barbieri dived over from close before lock Roberto Calderón scored another try to make the score 51-9. Fittingly, Henning scored his fourth try late on to complete the rout for Mexico, who were 74th in the world rankings, 22 positions behind Bermuda, before the game.

Four Bermuda players, including Tashon DeSilva who was taken to hospital, had to be treated with altitude sickness after the game.

Van der Westhuizen admitted Mexico were the better side. “They were by far the better side today and deserved to win,” he said.

“I’m proud of the lads defensive effort in these challenging conditions. We had nine new caps today as well, so my players will learn from this experience.”