Haka & Hookers at the Manchester Rugby 7s Festival 2013

The Manchester 7's Rugby Festival has been running since 2008 and has been getting bigger and better each year. The International rugby and music festival has even more games, teams, celebrities and musical acts than ever before, and this year ran from the 17th till 19th May.

This year saw the festival host 17 tournaments catering to men, women and all levels of players. Tournaments included the Dallagio Foundation International Cup 7's, Samurai Sportswear Men’s Open 7's and Ladies Open 7's, whilst previous years have seen some of the world’s best rugby players on the pitch. 

Off the pitch there is a variety of things to see and do. It is possible to walk around the trade village where some of the best rugby equipment suppliers and sponsors have gathered to display their very best products. Other highlights include the Red Bull Wigwam or the armed forces area where you can try a variety of physical events.

If you are worried about missing some of the rugby season's key games then fear not as the festival always arranges to screen big matches inside their festival marquee. This year, the Amlin Cup Final, the Heineken Cup Final and the end of the premiership football season was shown on the big screen TV's throughout the weekend. The festival marquee also has its very own bar, so you can grab a beer whilst you take in all the action.

A festival would not be complete without music and Manchester Rugby 7's does not disappoint. The festival marquee in 2013 hosted some fantastic bands throughout the weekend including The Quangos, Dead Kestrels and Cheap Cuts. They also be featured various DJ's to keep the tunes spinning until the early hours.

If you are planning to head to this event next year, to get the most out of this 3 day event you will want to arrange to stay overnight in Manchester. The festival does offer an on-site camping area for those of you who want to get the most out of your festival experience. If you would prefer to stay in a hotel then the festival site is only a few miles away from Manchester city centre, and also has plenty of good hotels nearby. For  more information and tickets.

Why not create a weekend of it and use this opportunity to explore the city of Manchester and go on a UK city break. Keen sports fans can take a visit to the legendary ground of Manchester United at Old Trafford, the “Theatre of Dreams” or explore the rival ground of Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium. Lancashire Cricket Club is also located nearby and is well worth a visit on a weekend away.

Once you have recovered from the excesses of the festival it would be an ideal opportunity to discover Manchester's nightlife. The city is known for its musical history and diversity and has many quirky venues to discover. 

Other notable places to visit in Manchester include the Imperial War Museum where you can see one of the biggest collections of war memorabilia around. If you fancy a spot of shopping then visit The Trafford Centre which has over 360 stores under one roof.