The Quilter Cheviot North of England Invitation School 7s takes place on Sunday.

Split between St Anselm’s College and Birkenhead School, the competition consists of forty teams, split across eight groups of five.

It is a tricky competition to progress through, only the Top teams in each group will progress to the Cup knockouts, where they will start at the quarter finals, with those finishing second in the groups competing for the Plate.

Kirkham Grammar School are the reigning champions, the competition was cancelled last year but they won it back in 2015. They are among the favourites this year too after a flying start to their 7s season, including a win at Sunday’s Colston’s 7s.

They are in Group A, where RGS Lancaster, Old Swinford Hospital, and French side Sacre Couer of Reims will compete, along with Giggleswick.

RGS Newcastle finished second to Kirkham last time out, they are in Group E, where they are joined by the hosts, Birkenhead, Scottish side Loretto, Worksop College, and the 2015 Plate winners, Bradford Grammar School.

Hymers College were runners up to Bradford in that Plate in 2015, they are in Group D where the challengers are King’s Worcester, Rishworth, Mount St Mary’s, and Queen Ethelburga’s.

Queen Ethelburga’s 2^nd VII are also in attendance, they are in Group C alongside Austin Friars, and Ashville College.

Co-hosts St Anselm’s College head Group B, where they will face one of the other big favourites, Sedbergh. It is a competitive looking group, with Rydal Penrhos, Sandbach, and Durham also involved.

Back in 2014 Woodhouse Grove lifted the Trophy. They will hope to challenge this year, and will do so from Group G, where Trent College, Birkdale, Wirral Grammar School, and Ampleforth College will be their opponents.

It was Denstone College that Woodhouse Grove defeated in that 2014 final, and they return also for 2017. They face a very much in form Barnard Castle in a tricky Group F though, with Ellesmere College, Shrewsbury, and Altrincham Grammar also in attendance.

Group H should also be competitive with a number of evenly matched teams. Manchester Grammar, Pocklington, Stockport Grammar, Calday Grange Grammar, and AKS Arnold will all be hoping to progress to one or other of the knockout stages.