ILKLEY Rugby Club will be chasing national glory in the Source Trading 24/Sevens at Bath on Saturday.

They are one of the eight teams to have made it to the finals of a competition which had an initial entry of 700 teams.

And if they can claim the ultimate prize it would be the perfect gift for Head of Rugby Rhys Morgan’s 50th birthday on Sunday.

Chairman Mike Halling hailed the club’s achievement in qualifying for the final. He said: “This to me is bigger than reaching the final of the Intermediate Cup at Twickenham in 2012.

“Rhys and the players have done wonders and we are really proud of them.”

Ilkley have been drawn in Pool B alongside Fijian Knights, Nomads and Honeybadgers.

The other Group features Godfathers, Birmingham Bees, Sumurai Bulldogs and Blue Bulldogs.

Ilkley will be without three of the players who featured in the qualifying events, Joe Lowes, Ben Waddington and Charles Morgan.

On the plus side, Jack Maplesden and Luke Freer are available to come in and JH Johnson is fit after picking up a knock in the recent Ilkley Sevens.

“We will give it our best shot,” said Rhys Morgan. “It will be a great occasion and an honour to be part of it. It is a big day for the club.”

Once the sevens adventure is over, Ilkley will be stepping up their preparations for the new league season.

Those plans have suffered a blow with the news that lock Kieran Dannatt has suffered a detached retina for the second time and cannot play.

It means the hunt is on for another second row forward.