Organisers of the Cheltenham 7s Festival are looking forward to a tonne of fun this summer.

They are hoping that 100 rugby teams will compete in this year’s extravaganza, which will take place at the Newlands on Friday and Saturday, 19^th and 20^th July.

Last year 73 teams took part which was still a very good number, of course, but event organiser Jack Petelo is hoping that this year’s spectacular will be bigger and better than ever.

And there’s a lot more going on at the festival than just rugby, with netball, lacrosse, hockey, and dodgeball all featuring prominently.

“We had 20-plus netball teams playing last year,” continued Petelo, “this year we want 30.”

There will also be music – plenty of it – with Petelo saying: "We're thrilled to bring together the best of sports and music for another spectacular edition of the Cheltenham 7s.

"This year's festival promises non-stop entertainment for all, it’s where music and sport collide!"

Petelo is hoping as many as 10,000 people may attend the festival with ABBA Revival headlining on the Friday and Artful Dodger and Cheltenham beatbox band Duke the star acts on the Saturday.

This year’s charity 15-a-side rugby match – it will start at 6pm on the Friday - will again be refereed by top official Christophe Ridley.

Ridley, a former University of Gloucestershire student, took charge of his first Six Nations game earlier this year.

For more information about the festival and ticket bookings, visit www.cheltenham7sfestival.co.uk