With less than six weeks to go until the annual Rugby Classic, the big names are already signing up for their chance to jet in for the unofficial veterans? World Cup.

The 19th edition of the popular sporting spectacular will feature the usual teams rolling back the years to battle it out for the coveted crystal trophy.

The Lions and the Australians seem to have made the strongest additions to their squads, with the British side bringing in former England number eight Tony Diprose as well as Irish winger and former Lion Tyrone Howe.

The Australians, back in the competition for a third time following a ten-year hiatus, have added the most experience player in the event, Tim Horan, who has 83 caps for the Wallabies. Horan will be joined by Mark Giacheri, from New South Wales, who has nearly 50 caps for Italy at lock.

But, as usual, it will be the Classic Springboks who will be the team to watch, as they go for their third straight title.

Although the inspirational Joost van der Westhuizen will be missing this time, the South Africans still have a dangerous array of players ? a number of them only recently retired ? at their disposal.

The giant Dale Santon will help punch holes in the defence with Tiaan Strauss while Andries Fourie and Jan Harm van Wyk will be there to score the tries as they have done the past two years.

Little is changing from last year?s tried and trusted schedule ? bringing in the $200,000 bleachers that helped bring down the company behind the Cricket Classic has been deemed too expensive ? although the traditional Saturday night welcome party on November 4 has been moved from Bermudiana Road to Barr?s Bay Park.

Play begins as usual on Sunday and Monday with the opening matches before a break for the golf day on the Tuesday. Semi-finals will again be on the Wednesday and Thursday ahead of the black tie dinner on the Friday where legendary Lion Willie John McBride, who has played here before, is the guest speaker.

The finals will be played on Saturday, November 11.

?We are looking forward to it as you?d expect,? said Classic president John Kane.

?We are expecting it to be an even bigger event this year, we have had a lot of interest from overseas and our worldwide travel agents have sold all their packages.

?Here, we have nearly sold out all the corporate hospitality, so I think it?s going to be a good year for crowds.?

As part of a push for both this year?s and next year?s events, the Tourism Department recently sponsored a match in the top league in England between Harlequins and Leicester.