South African rugby legend Francois Pienaar will be hoping for World Rugby Classic glory when he heads to Bermuda in November.

The Springboks, winners in 2000, are sending the nucleus of their 1995 World Cup winning team to the Island to compete in the annual rugby spectacular.

Pienaar, who accepted the cup from South African president Nelson Mandela in a moving moment in sporting and political history, will be joined by Joost Van Der Westhuizen, Hennie Le Roux, Japie Mulder, Pieter Hendriks and hooker Naka Drotske.

Pienaar was capped 29 times by the Springboks, all of them as captain, and joined Saracens after the World Cup win ? undoubtedly the highlight of his career ? before retiring in 1992.

Scrum-half Van Der Westhuizen is the country's most capped players with 89 and is also the top try-scorer in Tests, having crossed the line 38 times.

Australia, returning to the Classic after an 11-year absence, are due to announce their players next month but have confirmed that the legendary Bob Dwyer, who led the successful 1991 World Cup bid, will be the coach.

"I think we are now entering the era where players who were amateur and stayed on to enjoy some of the fruits of the professional game are now retiring," said Classic president John Kane.

"And the Classic is going to see an influx of these players over the next couple of years."

Only four of the 40 hospitality tents are still available for the event, which begins on November 6, with the Barbarians, France, Canada and New Zealand all confirmed to play.

There will also be two women's international teams and a Bermuda international match.

Kane revealed that the Classic organisers had been approached to host one of four worldwide farewell dinners for England captain Martin Johnson next year.

In last year's final, played in October, France defeated the USA 13-6.