Mike Tindall, a World Cup winner with England in 2003, will be one of the star attractions at the World Rugby Classic this year along with a returning New Zealand team after a two-year hiatus.

Tindall, who made 75 appearances during an England career spanning 11 years, will lead a Classic Lions side that includes his World Cup-winning team-mate, Iain Balshaw, who retired at the end of last season with Biarritz, the French Top 14 club.

Balshaw, a wing or full back, won 35 caps for England and was also a long-time team-mate of Tindall’s at Gloucester in the Premiership.

The Lions will be hoping that Tindallm, who is married to Zara Phillips, the eldest granddaughter of the Queen, and Balshaw can add attacking flair to a side that often appeared one-dimensional in last year’s tournament, losing to Argentina in the semi-finals.

Dan Parks, a former Scotland fly half, who holds the all-time points record in the Celtic League, and former Ireland centre Paddy Wallace, should also add much needed verve to the Lions back row.

New Zealand return to the Classic for the first time since 2011 with a star-studded side that appears hungry to make up for lost time.

Leading the All Blacks will be Reuben Thorne, who played 50 times for his country, 23 as captain. He will be joined by former international prop Kees Meuws, the assistant coach of the Highlanders in the Super Rugby tournament, and flanker Scott Robertson, who won 23 caps for his country.

New Zealand, who won the Classic title in 2009 and 2010, will be the only Antipodeans in this year’s classic, with Australia, the 2012 winners, not included in the line-up of teams released to The Royal Gazette this week.

The Classic Springboks, the defending champions, will be without Victor Matfield, last year’s captain, who has since reignited his international career with South Africa, having initially retired at the end of the 2011 World Cup.

Also taking part in the Classic will be a team from the British Army, who will play against Atlanta Renegades, with both sides also taking on a Bermuda Old Boys XV.

The Classic gets under way on November 8 with a “Ruck & Roll” welcome party at Pier 6 in Hamilton.

There will be a friendly between the Bermuda Old Boys and Renegades the next day with 1pm start before the Classic opener between Italy and Classic Springboks at 2.45pm.

The Classic Lions play United States at 4pm.

All games will be played at North Field, National Sports Centre.