Hottie Louw and Gerhard Vosloo are among the top names looking to ensure the Classic Springboks retain their World Rugby Classic title next month.

The Springboks defeated the Classic Pumas 14-0 at North Field, National Sports Centre, last year to claim their sixth title and first since 2013.

With lock Louw, 41, who played three Tests for South Africa, and 38-year-old flanker Vosloo, a former Top 14 player for Clermont Auvergne and Brive, named in their travelling party, the Springboks are sure to be title contenders.

Perennial favourites Classic Lions, who were beaten 14-7 by the Springboks in the semi-finals last year, have included Sean Lamont, Mike Ross and Marcus Horan in their 23-man squad.

Lamont, only the second Scotland player to win 100 caps for his country, retired from professional rugby last season while playing for Glasgow Warriors.

The centre scored 70 points for Scotland from 2004 to 2017, and 320 points during his club career, which included two spells at the Warriors. Lamont is a Scottish Rugby Academy coach at present.

Ross, who also retired last season, made 61 appearances for Ireland, playing in two World Cups, as well as winning a pair of Six Nations titles.

He also won two Heineken Cups, a Challenge Cup and two Pro12 titles with Leinster.

Meanwhile, Horan was capped 67 times by Ireland and was part of the side that won the Grand Slam in 2009. The prop, who retired in 2013, also represented Ireland at the 2007 World Cup and won a pair of Heineken Cup crowns and a Pro12 with Munster.

Also named in the 24-man squad are Tomás O’Leary, a former Ireland scrum half, Gavin Kerr, who won 50 caps as a prop for Scotland, and returning players Chris Wyatt, Ceri Sweeney, David Corkery, Ritchie Rees and Neil Best.

The Classic All Blacks complete the “Big Three” and will likely turn to Kane Thompson, Tom Donnelly and Corey Flynn for inspiration as they hunt for a first title since 2014.

Thompson won 33 caps for Samoa and spent two seasons at Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership, fellow lock Donnelly was capped 15 times for the All Blacks and also played for Montpellier in the Top 14, while hooker Flynn won 15 caps for his country.

The World Rugby Classic runs from November 5 to 11, with the opening game between Classic Pumas and Rugby Canada at North Field at 2.30pm.