Around 1,000 youngsters will descend on Colchester’s Mill Road ground next Sunday (March 23) for the club’s popular 33rd Mini/Midi Rugby Festival.

Teams representing the hosts, as well as from the two Ipswich clubs, Hadleigh, Stowmarket, Sudbury, Woodbridge and Bishop’s Stortford will play in competitions ranging from under-sevens to under-12s.

“My first hope is that the tournament goes ahead, as it was cancelled due to snow last year, following a lot of had work from the organisers,” said tournament organiser Jack Hedley.

“We hope everyone has a good time and want to promote kids’ rugby in Colchester as much as we can.”

A total of 93 different teams from the eight clubs will be taking part, with between 950 and 1,000 children likely to be competing in more than 200 games.

The competition’s format will adhere to the RFU’s Continuum with teams in the under-sevens’ age group playing four-a-side games lasting five minutes each half, while contact will be introduced at under-nine level.

Uncontested scrums will be introduced from the under-10 level and will involve the first three players that reach them, so not to pigeonhole certain players in certain positions.

In the pool stages, two points shall be awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss and in the event of two teams finishing with the same points in the pool, the final placing will be decided by the following: The result between the two sides with the winner of that game finishing higher, or the team with the highest difference between tries scored and conceded, or the toss of a coin

In the under-12s, the games will be 13-a-side, minus two flankers, and Hedley says junior rugby is a good spectacle.

“The way the RFU has structured the game encourages ball handling and support, with the physicality introduced at under-nine level.”

Admission is free and the action starts at 10.30am.