Defending champions France will trot out on to the North Field at the National Stadium in two days to kick off the World Rugby Classic.

Featuring a returning Australian side, a stellar South African squad, new rules, better weather and a testimonial dinner for one of the best known players in the sport, the 2004 edition of the popular sporting event is set to be the best yet.

The absence of penalty kicks should keep games flowing and try-scoring will be at a premium throughout the week-long festival.

On the field, expect a South African side featuring players like Joost ven der Westhuizen, Naka Drotske, Johan Erasmus, Pieter Rossouw and Brendan Venter to push the French all the way for the Classic crown, while off it expect World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson's dinner to be a highlight long remembered by rugby enthusiasts in Bermuda.

The Classic has firmly cemented itself as an unofficial Seniors World Cup, so it should be no surprise that a galaxy of household names will be once again parading their still considerable talents on Island turf.

Fans of the 15-a-side sport should be in rapture when they watch ven der Westhuizen, Frano Botica, Phil Kearns, Nigel Heslop and Olivier Roumat in action, while Bermuda's youngsters will be delighted when they get coaching from Johnson and fellow World Cup winning skipper Francois Pienaar at a special clinic on Monday morning.

The event is now in its 17th year since taking over from the popular Easter Classic and continues to grow with each edition and for organiser John Kane one of the most pleasing aspects of the 2004 event is the return of the Australians.

Some ill-advised shenanigans in Number One shed a decade ago cost the Wallabies their place in the Classic - even though they were never officially banned - but this year they make their long-awaited return.

“It's great to have them back,” said Kane, who will have to install a full-time tournament office ahead of next year's event as the Classic continues to expand.

“We have always tried to have the top rugby-playing countries represented here so the Aussies were a noticeable absentee. They caused a lot of problems for us with their behaviour but, as it happened, they couldn't make it back the following year so we agreed to say they were banned just to keep the folks at City Hall happy.

“We have been trying to get them back for a while but they were pretty disorganised so it just didn't really happen. In the end we found some good people to work with down there and got it all sorted out.

“It will be great to have them back here. We now have the five nations represented, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand here as well as the Canadians, Americans and Argentina.

“The Iberians lost out, which is a shame for the Portuguese population here, but we struggled a little bit with their team anyway.”

The other hugely important addition to this event is the dinner for Johnson, a living legend whose name is known well beyond the confines of the rugby community.

“I think Bermuda should be honoured that Martin Johnson has decided to pick the Island as a venue for one of his dinners,” added Kane.

“If you look at the other cities that are also on his circuit, you will see some of the major rugby playing centres in the world.

“For little Bermuda, just a speck in the Atlantic, to be able to put on an event for 750 people like this shows just how far the Classic has come and how this festival of rugby is viewed by those in the game.

“Because of club commitments, Martin won't actually be playing, but he will be down there when he can and I'm sure he will be introduced on the pitch - something the fans are really going to love.

“People who know their rugby will see that we have some great names from the game from all countries here to play and to have Martin along as well speaks volumes for our event.”