2017 Bermuda: Saracens vs USA Islanders
#ISLvsSAR
The USA Islanders vs Saracens match is part of the Atlantic Rugby Cup 2017.
Minute by Minute
The London-based Saracens will face a new team of veteran USA island-based high performance rugby athletes.
Saracens will be in Bermuda for their preseason training. The Aviva Premiership team has a strong connection with the USA, what with several Eagles having played for the club or playing now (including current USA prop Titi Lamositele), and having a partnership with the Seattle Saracens club.
The London-based pro club will hold its preseason in Bermuda. International businessman and Bermuda RFU Chairman Gareth Nokes was instrumental in getting Saracens to use Bermuda as their training ground, and thus helping support charitable efforts for local youth through the Beyond Rugby Program.
"The primary focus is to raise funds for our charity however, in doing so, we get to watch world class rugby being played on our little island. What's not to love?" said Nokes.
Giving the Saracens a match, the retired USA Eagle Vaha Esikia coached USA Islanders will premier in Bermuda. The Islander team is the adaptation of long-time rugby dreamers Bruce McLean and Rob Holder. Both conceived the notion based on the New Zealand Maori concept of native islanders playing with their own team.