This year’s World Rugby Classic looks set to be a star-studded affair with some of the sport’s most decorated names lined up for the tournament.

Keven Mealamu, a two-times World Cup winner, Shane Williams, Wales’ record try scorer, and Gordon D’Arcy, the former Ireland centre, are some of the names to have been approached up by the event’s organisers.

Also expected to feature are South Africa locks Victor Matfield, who made his debut at the 2013 classic, and Bakkies Botha, as well as All Blacks players Brad Thorn and Ali Williams.

Andy Haden, the New Zealand coach, is looking to strengthen his side having suffered a 22-5 mauling against the Lions in last year’s final.

A player of Mealamu’s calibre should make a real impact on a side that struggled to beat Italy in their opening game at last November’s tournament, before a hard-fought 20-14 win over the Classic Springboks in the semi-finals.

Mealamu led the Haka in the final of last year’s World Cup against Australia, which the All Blacks won 34-17 at Twickenham. The 36-year-old made 132 appearances for his country.

Matfield also featured at last year’s World Cup, helping South Africa reach the semi-finals, where they lost to New Zealand 20-18. He had the honour of captaining his country in the third-place play-off game against Argentina in his final appearance for the Springboks.

The 38-year-old was part of the Classic Springboks team that won the World Rugby Classic during his brief retirement in 2013, beating the Classic Pumas 14-7.

Williams, the International Rugby Board’s player of the year in 2008, is another behemoth of the game sure to set pulses racing.

Winning 87 caps for his country, Williams is third on the international list of leading try scorers and toured with the Lions on three occasions.

Joining Williams in what should be a formidable backline for the Lions will be D’Arcy, who partnered Brian O’Driscoll in the centre for Ireland, winning 82 caps for his country.

This year’s Classic will be held from November 6 to 12.

•The 43rd George Duckett Memorial match will be played at Police Field tomorrow.

The game, in honour of the former Commissioner of Police who was assassinated in 1972, starts at 3. 30pm, with Bermuda Police playing a Bermuda Select XV.

There will be several other games tomorrow afternoon, with the Police women’s team playing The Rest, and Police 2nds against Bermuda Under-19s.