Bermuda’s Men’s Under-19 national team have arrived in Querétaro, Mexico, ahead of the 2026 Rugby Americas North (RAN) XVs Championship at FC Total.
The 19-player squad, captained by Dylan Sangster alongside vice-captains Nyindae Smith and Dante Noel-Simmons, face a punishing opening day on Wednesday against top-seeded United States before meeting host nation Mexico.
With nine players making their tournament debut, co-head coach Chris Naylor acknowledged the steep task ahead in a round-robin schedule that also includes matches against Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
“We have an extremely tough start against the USA, and it does not get any easier with Mexico immediately afterwards,” said Naylor. “Our senior players will need to lead from the front, but the boys have trained well and are ready to express themselves.”
Bermuda Rugby President Gemma Godfrey praised the player-development pathway, noting the achievement of competing against far larger nations on the regional stage.
The tournament will also mark the first implementation of RAN’s 2026 Tackle Height Law Variation. In open-field play, tacklers are required to make contact below the base of the ball-carrier’s sternum in a directive designed to reduce head-contact risks.
