CANCER fighter Jeff Simm will welcome star rugby league brothers Liam and Ben Harrison to his fund-raising tournament tomorrow.

Ben, of Super League Warrington Wolves, and Barrow Raiders servant Liam will be part of a team representing the Craven Park club in the Jeff Simm Rugby Sevens, which begins at 12 noon.

So far half-a-dozen sides have signed up for the competition, now in its second year, and there is the hope of more teams to turn up, take part and help a good cause.

Simm will be at the event with his family and hopes a good crowd turns out at the Hawcoat Park Sports Club venue to watch the spectacle and at the same time help raise funds for Furness General Hospital's Oncology Unit.

The 67-year-old, diagnosed with terminal cancer last year, said: “I think it is important not only to me because of the condition that I have got but as a tribute really to the oncology department at Furness General who are absolutely 100 per cent marvellous - very friendly and very welcoming.

“I couldn't put into words what you get from it unless you have been there.

“The other thing is it gives us the opportunity to raise some money which is going to go to the oncology department and also brings together, like last season, rugby league and rugby union.

“I got a message off Paul Crarey (Raiders coach) saying Barrow rugby were putting a team in, and Liam and Ben Harrison are playing which is good."

The former BAE Systems worker, who played rugby and coached at Hawcoat Park for many years, added: “Last year I had this passion to bring sevens rugby back because when I first started we had an inter-departmental seven-a-side within the shipyard and we used to get some good turnouts, from the apprentice training schools through to the main offices.”

Entry for spectators is free with Simm adding: “I am hoping it is going to be well supported."

Simm, who would like to see the sevens comp become an annual event on Barrow's sporting calendar, paid tribute to Hawcoat Park chairman John Horne's efforts behind the scenes.

“He is very enthusiastic, very proactive. He holds our club section together along with a lot of volunteers," he said.

“Hawcoat Park is a brilliant club and I've been a member of it for well over 50 years and I went on to play rugby from the training school.”

As well as Barrow Raiders taking part, there will be teams representing Windermere, Furness, two from BAE Systems and Egremont, playing, with the first games set to kick off around 12.30pm.

Simm was honoured at last year's Cumbria Sports Awards with a Service to Sport award. He thought he had was cancer-free after surgery in 2013, but the disease returned last year when it was discovered in a check-up at his local surgery.

The competition is limited to 10 teams but any other club who is interested in taking part can call 07517 386 268 for more details or just turn up on the day.