World Rugby Classic Tonight I'm off to watch the 2nd night of the Bermuda Rugby Classic at the National Stadium. In the 70's and early 80's Bermuda successfully invited a number of 1st class nations to play exhibition games here and some of the players liked the camaraderie and the rum cocktails so much they helped instigate a veteran's tournament that came to fruition in 1988. Players such as Willie John McBride and JPR Williams were early guests as teams from all over the world came to contest the tournament.

Wales won that first tournament in 1988 and South Africa won last year's title. By all accounts it is a load of fun and the senior players take it seriously, almost as serious in fact as their partying all over the island, with each team occupying local establishments. Canada had appeared to have taken over the Swizzle Inn at Bailey's Bay when we were there on Saturday night.

The Bermuda Rugby Classic is one of the year's biggest corporate events in Bermuda and I have been lucky enough to be invited every night this week. My liver won't take that, but I will keep you updated during the week of the happenings, on and off the field.

Tonight is considered the big one. Drinking wise that is, as tomorrow is a national holiday on the island. Oh, didn't I tell you? More tomorrow on that. Tonight has been renamed Friday night with no work tomorrow as New Zealand take on the USA and Argentina play the Classic Lions.

Other countries taking part this week are Canada, Australia, France and South Africa. Full schedule here.  ¶ 16:31