AROUND 30,000 sports and music fans are set to descend on Bournemouth this weekend for an event that continues to go from strength-to-strength.

The Bournemouth 7s festival, which is backed by the Daily Echo, is now billed as the world’s largest sport and music festival.

Over the late May bank holiday weekend around 400 sports teams, including netball, dodgeball, hockey and - of course - rugby sevens sides, will battle it out at the Bournemouth Sports Club site.

Away from the sporting action, there will be a dozen themed festival arenas and more than 40 live acts.

This year’s headline act is the critically-acclaimed singer songwriter Example.

Festival founder Roger Woodall told the Echo: “He is one of the greatest British live performers, he is going to make that festival jump. I’m really excited.

“It is just taking us to another level, each year we are just constantly improving.”

Bournemouth 7s has come a long way since 4,000 spectators gathered for the first event in 2008.

Roger, a former semi-professional rugby player who played for Leicester Tigers, said: “It all started when I saw the Dubai Sevens and the Hong Kong Sevens and realised there was nothing like that for the fans in the UK. There was no sporting and music festival in this country, so why not give it a go?”

“Myself and my wife risked everything, we remortgaged our house, it was a huge gamble. When we first launched in 2008, we had to promote the festival old school, by flyers and posters, just trying to spread the word.

“I was lucky I had the experience of throwing parties in nightclubs, that is what I had done for a living, I knew how to promote.”

“But it has gone beyond my wildest dreams to be honest.”

This year’s sevens teams are drawn from across the world, with sides travelling to Bournemouth from South Africa, Hong Kong, Dubai, France and Ireland, as well as hundreds from the length and breadth of the UK.

Roger said: “It is a unique festival with amazing energy, because it is like-minded people coming down in fancy dress, having a few beers, taking at look at the different festival arenas we have laid on for them, and just letting themselves go.

“From my Leicester Tiger playing days, I have a lot of friends who are England players, a lot of players from the national set up come down and party for the weekend.

“Huge international starts coming down, having a few beers and just enjoying the fun.”

Bournemouth 7s takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Festival arenas this year include the Carlsberg Beer Tent, the all new Bunker, the Big Top Tent, Somersby Cider Garden, Cocktail Garden. Kitsound Bubbleluv Tent and Viper 10 Lounge.

Visit bournemouth7s.com for further information.