AFTER playing his part in England Under-19s clinching a Six Nations Grand Slam, Pocklington's Rob Webber jets out this weekend to South Africa to play in the U19 World Championships.

England completed a first ever Grand Slam with a convincing win over Italy at Doncaster, and they will be hoping to take that form to South Africa for the bigger competition that is based in Durban.

For 18-year-old Webber, a former Pocklington RUFC mini-rugby player and Pocklington School captain, who is now on Leeds Tykes books, it will be his third trip to South Africa with England sides.

He said: "It's great to be selected, and South Africa's a great place to play rugby. I can't wait to get out there."

Rob's elder brother, Matt, 21, made his second appearance in an England shirt at the weekend. He was at prop for the England Universities side who beat their Scottish counterparts 17-0 at Teddington.

England Universities have one game left when they play Combined Services U21s at Twickenham on May 7.

Meanwhile, Good Friday's Henley's Nurseries Pock 7s kick-started a busy sporting programme at Pocklington RUFC over the Easter weekend.

Club officials have been working hard all week to make sure that everything is in place for another big day, and people have already been returning to the area for the event.

One of the things that makes the Pock 7s unique is the number of former local residents who come back every year to meet up with old friends. And during the week a couple of ex-Pocklington players have flown in from their homes in South Africa and Spain to be present.

The tournament opened with a game between Bridlington and Ipswich Exiles and continued through to the final at 5.40pm.

On Sunday the club's junior section gets in on the seven-a-side act when they stage their Junior Charity Sevens Tournament, sponsored by Agriyork 400 Ltd.

There are three competitions at U13, U14 and U15 age levels, with teams from Pocklington, Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield, Hull Ionians, Hullensians, Malton & Norton and Walkington, along with touring interest from Lancashire side, Sedgeley Park, and East Anglia visitors, Norwich.

The tournament, which also raises money for Martin House Hospice for Children, starts at 10am and is scheduled to continue until early afternoon.

On Easter Monday there is an impromptu charity football match, when men's and women's teams of townsfolk (in drag and wellies) play each other at 11am in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service.

Pocklington U10s will be on the big stage on Easter Sunday when they play at the Headingley Stadium as part of the half-time entertainment during the Leeds Tykes v Leicester Tigers Premiership encounter (2pm).

York have arranged a club game at Yarnbury on Saturday, while York RI are in friendly action at Otliensians.

Updated: 09:37 Friday, March 25, 2005