The annual World Rugby Classic is on the move.

This year’s event has been brought forward from its traditional November dates and will instead take place in October to avoid scheduling conflicts with other international tours.

“When the Classic started in 1988, November was a quiet month in the international rugby calendar,” John Kane, the World Rugby Classic president, told The Royal Gazette. “Now it is the traditional month for tours from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Argentina and Japan to the British Isles, France and Italy.

“The result is many of the ex-internationals, who would like to come to the Classic, cannot because they are involved with the November tours; either as commentators or being guest speakers at corporate events on match days.”

This year’s event will again be held at the National Sports Centre North Field from October 8 to 15.

“We had originally considered the week of October 16, but the Butterfield PGA Golf event has also moved and is on that week,” Kane added. “So will be go the week before the golf.”

Organisers hope to have as many as eight teams represented by former international greats.

“Invitations have been issued to Argentina, South Africa, Lions Legends (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales), France, Italy, Canada and the United States, while we await details of a new participant,” Kane said.

“We are planning to return to a pre-Covid Classic by having eight teams participate and, with the change in dates, expect to see many great former internationals in the teams.”

France went undefeated on the way to winning last year’s event.

“Last year the 33rd Classic was a vaccinated only event, and I am very pleased that everyone adhered to the rules with the result, there were no Covid related problems,” Kane added.

“We welcomed some 4,000 people over the four days to the Classic, and this year we plan to return to pre-Covid numbers for what is one of Bermuda’s jewel events.”