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Good Friday (2nd April) will once again see the UK’s Pocklington RUFC the venue for Yorkshire’s oldest Sevens tournament, the 52nd Guinness Pock 7s. 

Launched in 1959, the tournament has become a permanent fixture on the regional rugby calendar ever since, with a 2500-3000 strong crowd expected at Percy Road to mark the start of the Easter Weekend.

Defending champions Fiji Covenant Brothers, Army based Fijians based in Southampton are expected to defend the Fowler trophy, once again led by Bunny Burenivalu.

There is a strong local interest from the 14 Yorkshire entries, but they will be challenged by some useful sides from the South and Midlands, with CB Fiji also adding strong South Sea influence. 

This year sees a Ladies event added with Pocklington Ladies, Hull, Market Rasen Vixons and former players from York RI in a four team competition that starts at 12 noon.

On Easter Sunday the juniors also get in on the act as they hold their Junior Charity Sevens from 10.30 am with over 20 Junior teams in action at Under-13, Under-14 and Under-15 age levels.

Hull Ionians are a late pull out to the main Men’s draw with organiser Denzel Styche explaining how the UK winter has caused problems in this organising for this year.

“Having the tournament on Good Friday usually means we have always got a good turnout with no games set for the holiday weekend. Yet because of rescheduled fixtures form various clubs 15-a-side commitments it has proved difficult,” says Styche.

“We have a really nice blend of local sides and invitational sides, with the Fiji influence too. It’s a special atmosphere and event with a long history. It is free for teams to enter and they are all battling it for the prestige of the W. S. Fowler Challenge Trophy. Let us just hope the weather holds.”