The action starts this afternoon with the Scarborough & District Secondary School's under-16 tournament and carries on over the weekend with tomorrow's Real Ale Sevens for 'junior' clubs and will conclude on Sunday with the Pindar Trophy competition for the big boys of rugby union's short game.

The Secondary Schools under-16 tournament is always a favourite and well supported by youngsters and parents alike.

Today's tournament kicked off at 4pm with a provisional entry of teams from Graham (two), Filey (two), Raincliffe and Scarborough College (two).

The competition comprised of two round-robin groups with the top team in each league contesting the final which was scheduled to commence at 6pm.

Tomorrow's Scarborough Real Ale Sevens competition will be packed with local interest as Scarborough are entering two sides in the competition.

This section also includes teams from Guisborough, Morpeth, Mor Exiles, Stockton, York University, Northern RFC, Tynedale, Adwick-le-street and invitation teams, the Salad Dodgers and Raiders.

The teams are split up into four groups with the action starting at 11am with the Scarborough-Guisborough game and going on to 6:30pm when the final will be played.

And it really will be a 'Real Ale' festival with 15 real ales on offer at the Newby clubhouse. Just the thing to wash down your barbecue food which will be available throughout the day.

Entry for the event will be £3.50 or £6 for a weekend pass.

Sunday sees the big boys in action with the Pindar Trophy competition kicking off at 11am.

Last year's winners Team Northumbria will defend their title against the celebrated Loughborough Students side, Leeds Elite, KS Crusaders, The Purple Turtles (Durham University), top sevens specialists Mel's Exiles, The Wooden Spoon Seven (RFU charity side), Tynedale Raiders and Fijian spiced army sides from Catterick and the 1st Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment.

An absolute feast of running rugby is assured for your entry fee of £5. Accompanied under 16s go free.

The real ale festival will continue and delicious food from the barbecue will again be available all day.

For spectators new to rugby sevens, the games are played by teams of seven players per side playing two halves of seven minutes on a full size pitch.

The finals will be 10 minutes each way.