full back JPR Williams at next month's World Rugby Classic.

Williams, considered by many to be one of the greatest players to wear the number 15 jersey, intends to retire completely from the game after the Classic Lions' final game at National Sports Club.

The man who is always known simply by his initials will join an illustrious list which includes Tony O'Reilly and Gordon Brown who bowed out in Bermuda.

However, Williams will have to relinquish his usual position to play in the back row after organisers signed former Scottish and British Lions captain Gavin Hastings to skipper the side.

JPR played 55 times for Wales from 1969 to 1981 and eight times for the British Lions in 1971 and 1974. He was a regular during the glory days of Welsh rugby when the country won the Five Nations on eight occasions and participated in series wins for the Lions against both New Zealand and South Africa.

Hastings, meanwhile, will be making his first Classic appearance. The full back played 61 times for his country from 1986 to 1995 and six times for the Lions, against Australia in 1989 and New Zealand four years later.

Joining Hastings in the Classic Lions Scottish contingent are prolific try scorers Keith Robertson and Iwan Tukalo, who have 44 caps and 37 caps respectively, and another former skipper Colin Deans, who made 52 appearances as hooker.

Keith Crossan, the top try scorer from last year's winning team is returning.

Crossan played 41 times for Ireland.

Classic Lions squad: Ian Stephens (Wales, 13 caps), Jeremy Pugh (Wales, 3), Paul Huntsmans (England, 2), Ricky Evans (Wales, 19), Ian Corcoran (Scotland, 2), Colin Deans (Scotland, 52), Steve Boyle (England, 3), Ken Macauley (Scotland B), Noel Mannion (Ireland, 15), John O'Driscoll (Ireland, 26), JPR Williams (Wales, 55), Mark Rigby (England B), Mike Budd (Wales B), Ken McLeish (Scotland B), Jonathan Griffiths (Wales, 3), Marcus Hannaford (England B), Derek McAleese (Ireland, 1), Keith Robertson (Scotland, 44), Ewan Kennedy (Scotland, 4), David Lyons (Great Britain rugby league), Rob Lozowski (England, 1), Iwan Tukalo (Scotland, 37), Keith Crossan (Ireland, 41), Gavin Hastings (Scotland, 61, captain).

Manager: Willie John McBride (Ireland, 63).