A GROUP of travellers have pitched up at a rugby club putting a sports festival at risk of cancellation.

Thousands are expected to travel to Brighton Rugby Football Club on the weekend to take part in a rugby and netball competition, but a group of travellers are driving around Waterhall's pitches in four vehicles.

A rugby club official has contacted police, and although the Brighton 7s festival is likely to go ahead, if a large group occupy the club's car parks, the event will have to be cancelled on health and safety grounds.

When travellers occupy the car parks, players and spectators are forced to park in the road which means ambulances cannot get to the pitches.