calendar for the last 23 years -- won't take place this weekend.

The match, which has featured some of the best rugby players in the world, is a victim of this year's World Cup since many of the players who usually come to Bermuda are committed to getting ready for the South Africa tournament.

The only other time the tournament was cancelled was in 1974.

"We weren't going to get the quality of players particularly out of England,'' said Easter Classic and World Rugby Classic president John Kane yesterday. "The English players are also involved in an England tour and Cup matches. The Irish players, a lot of them, are involved in the (World Cup) squad.'' Kane said the Easter mainstay will be resurrected in 1996, but will probably take place after Easter toward the end of April.

"It'll be a spring classic,'' said Kane.

Meanwhile, Kane yesterday announced that the 1995 World Rugby Classic will begin on November 11 -- and in another break from tradition, the popular tournament would end on November 18, a Saturday instead of the customary Sunday finale.

The same overseas teams from last year's tournament will be returning, including defending champions New Zealand, South Africa, England, Barbarians and US.

Last year's Classic will form part of a TV build-up to next month's World Cup with a one-hour programme on the event, produced by Yorkshire Television, shown throughout the UK.

Local rugby-starved fans, meantime, will have something to watch on Sunday as a visiting Hibernian squad face Bermuda at 3 p.m. at National Sports Club.