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Rugby legend Dr Jack Kyle yesterday launched the Guinness Carrick Sevens 2010, along with Ulster stars Timoci Nagusa and Clinton Schifcofske

Ulster's Premier Sevens Rugby tournament returns in April, for the 38th time. “It’s a great privilege to be in Carrickfergus as a representative of Wooden Spoon,” he said. 

“I would like to wish Carrickfergus RFC tremendous success with their Sevens tournament. And I'm impressed with such a fantastic achievement of them being able to attract so many teams from across the British Isles.”

Kyle played for Ireland, British Lions and Barbarians throughout the 40s and 50s and was inducted into the IRB’s Hall of Fame in 2009. 

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 Manvik Premier section of the tournament on the Sunday with the Wooden Spoon taking the Guinness Open.

The year’s tournament gets under way on Friday April 30 with the Kukri Sportswear Under 19s when 12 sides will be competing for the Everest Trophy, including English representatives Surrey Colts who will be defending their title and regular visitors Telford College from Edinburgh.

Locals Grosvenor and BHSFP may have something to say about that, with Carrickfergus looking to cause a few upsets following a successful season at that level, while Wreckin Ball and the Wild Cats who are drawn from Carrick Grammar and BRA respectively, might be the teams to watch.