YORKSHIRE’S oldest rugby seven-a-side tournament – the 59th John Smith’s Pock 7s – will get underway tomorrow.

The event, which will take place at Pocklington RUFC, has been held in the market town every Good Friday since 1959.

A total of 24 teams were pulled out of the hat for the draw, made by international duo and Sale Sharks team-mates Rob Webber and Mike Phillips, assisted by Pocks 7 supremo Denzil Styche.

Webber graduated from Pock’s mini rugby ranks to win 16 England caps and was presented with a commemorative Pock 7s shirt by Styche.

Wales’ most-capped scrum-half Phillips, meanwhile, has also toured twice with the British Lions.

The first game kicks off at 1pm, with more than six hours of non-stop rugby action following through to the final, scheduled for 6.40pm.

Many ex-pats will make their way to Percy Road for the annual Easter reunion, along with the local rugby fraternity.

There is a strong local interest from the nine Yorkshire club sides, but they will be challenged by some useful teams from further afield, including a mix of invitation, old boy and student outfits.

The student challenge will come from 2013 winners Bishop Burton, last year's runners-up Leeds Beckett and other university sides from Manchester Met and Bristol.

There are eight sides new to the tournament, including army dark-horses Queen's Own Yeomanry, while six former winners will again be going for glory, including host club and new North 1 East champions, Pocklington.

For first-round losers, meanwhile, there is a second bite of the cherry in the Plate Competition, which was won by York’s St Peter's Old Boys last year.

John Smith’s Pock 7s draw, first round: Old Pocklingtonians v Game Set & Snatch, Bristol (1pm), Hymers Presidents 7 v Pocklington Porkers (1.20pm), Malton & Norton v Hull Ionians (1.40pm), Woldgate OB v Old Hymerians (2pm), Driffield v Selby (2.20pm), Goole v Wot-A-Pullet (2.40pm), York Peterites v Goodemanham (3.00), Beverley v Bridlington (3.20).

Second round: Rotherham Titans v Winner A (1.40pm), Queen’s Own Yeomanry v Winner B (2pm), Manchester Met University v Winner C (2.20pm), Pocklington v Winner D (2.40pm), Bishop Burton v Winner E (3pm), Northern Exiles (Newcastle) v Winner F (3.20pm), Leeds Beckett University v Winner G (3.40pm), Brookfield v Winner H (4pm).