MORE than 400 young rugby players will battle it out in a top tournament at Stonyhurst College, near Clitheroe, on March 19. More than 46 teams are pitching in for one of the biggest rugby sevens tournaments for independent schools in the UK.

The Stonyhurst Sevens, launched 15 years ago, hosts knockout competitions for the under-11s, under-16s and seniors.

The competition, sponsored by Manchester-based Rowlands Solicitors, has produced top-quality matches and spawned rugby stars such as Kyran Bracken, Will Greenwood and Ian Balshaw.