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The Carrick Sevens, one of Northern Ireland’s best loved rugby parties, returns this weekend with its usual mix of Irish and UK sides heading to Woodlawn Grounds.

Now the largest annual festival of rugby in Ulster, 700 men and women from across Britain and Ireland will be competing for a total prize fund of £7,600, along with team sportswear.

In the Men’s competition last year’s main winners were the Kooga Wailers (now known as the HFW Wailers) who were victorious in the Manvik Premier section of the tournament on the Sunday.

The Wailers won’t be returning this year but Ulster Academy look favourites for the major prize in the County Antrim on Sunday (May 2).

Wooden Spoon, recent runners-up at the Sunshine Sevens, are back to defend their Guinness Open crown they won last year.

On Friday (April 30) the Kukri Sportswear Under-19s kicks off the new tournament when 12 sides compete for the Everest Trophy. Included are English representatives Surrey Colts who will be defending their title as well as regular visitors Telford College from Edinburgh.

Women's teams will also be battling it out in a 10s event also on the Sunday also. Included are Pontyclun Falcons and Wooden Spoon

Friday Nite (April 30) - Kukri Sportswear Under 19s

Surrey Colts (England), BHSFP. Big Cats. Wrecking Boys, Carrickfergus, Larne, Athletico Telford (Scotland)
Malone, Ards Ravens, Donegal County Select, Grosvenor Stags, Dungannon

Saturday (May 1) - Guinness Open

Abbey Ulster Exiles (Eng), Eton Manor (Eng), Wooden Spoon AAs, QM Titans (Scot), Murder Path (Eng), BHSFP, Carrickfergus, Newcastle Pirates, Novos Gremlins (Eng), Club De Buckfast (Scot), Presidents, Grosvenor Stags, Forrester FP (Scot), HCU Wildcats, PSNI, Donegal County Select, Athletico Telford (Eng), Old Campbellians
Tyrone Marauders, Tropic Thunder, Surrey Colts (Eng), Antrim, Glasgow Accies (Scot), Ramblers (ROI, Wigtonshire (Scot), Islanders (Fiji), Woodlawn Warriors, Larne, The Mighty Peth (Eng), Donaghadee, Academy, CI Barbarians

Sunday  (May 2)- Manvik Premier

Ulster Academy, Ards, Presidents, Dungannon, Portadown, Belfast Harlequins, Kukri King Cobras,

Sunday - (May 2) Abbey Ladies 10s

OA Albans (England), Enniskillen, Carrickfergus, Belfast Harlequins, Novos Panthers (England)
Wooden Spoon Lionesses (Eng), Pontyclun Falcons (Wales), City of Derry, Cooke, Queens