RUGBY player Rich Ellis is excitedly limbering up for the biggest game for his life, but will reluctantly miss another major match.

The Malton and Norton prop forward has a special reason for hoping his side do not end up as sporting bridesmaids at Twickenham on Saturday.

By helping the club to the final of the Tetley Bitter Vase, the Easingwold farmer and his two daughters will miss his cousin's wedding on the same day.

Victoria, six, and Georgina, four, had been fitted out for their dresses for the wedding of Mr Ellis' cousin, Sarah Clayton. But the plans were thrown into disarray by the club's success.

Mr Ellis, 35, said: "The way it has worked out is really unfortunate. We had to think about it a lot, but finally decided to go to Twickenham as it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me."

The girls and their six-month-old sister, Annabel, will now be among the 1,000 North Yorkshire fans travelling to the home of rugby union to cheer on the team against Merseysiders Hoylake.