MALTON & Norton could face a cross-code challenge at the Pocklington 7s rugby union tournament a week on Friday.

Malton, competition finalists last year, enter at the second-round stage, and the draw, made by England legend Lawrence Dallaglio, pitted them against the winners of the tie between Heworth Amateur Rugby League Club - the National Conference League division three side from York - and The Pilgrims.

The April 18 tournament, sponsored by John Smith’s, is the 56th running of the Pock 7s, Yorkshire’s oldest and biggest rugby union seven-a-side festival. The event has been held every Good Friday since 1959, and has grown into a major rugby occasion, with many exiles making returning home for an annual Easter reunion.

This year’s tournament again has a mixture of local club and invitation teams battling it out. Malton & Norton have won the Plate four times, and were runners-up in the main competition last year.

Two more Ryedale outfits, one based in Ampleforth and the other from the Three Feathers at Helmsley, are also playing.

There are seven former winners taking part, including Fowler Trophy holders Bishop Burton College.

Dallaglio, a former Ampleforth College pupil, became the sixth England World Cup-winning player to make the draw. It took place at BT Sport’s studios in London.

The Good Friday action at Percy Road begins before the sevens as Pocklington Colts play Darlington in a 15-a-side game at 11.45am.

The first game of the Pock 7s is between Amplefordians and Yapham Badgers and kicks off at 1pm. The Helmsley Three Feathers meet Old Pocklingtonians in the last first-round tie at 3.20pm. The final is scheduled for 6.40pm.