high gear tomorrow with the arrival of defending champions New Zealand and the United States.

The Kiwis -- Classic champions for four consecutive years -- will arrive on the Island shortly after noon and are installed as pre-tournament favourites, led by Andy Haden and his impressive resume, which includes 117 matches with the All Blacks and 41 Test appearances.

They are expected to get strong challenges from England, arriving on Saturday night, and from the Classic Barbarians, an all-star unit comprised of players from Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which boasts former Ireland captain Phillip Matthews. Even the US are considered Classic "sleepers''.

"Before it used to always be New Zealand and then the rest,'' Classic organiser John Kane said last night. "If I was a betting man, and I'm not, I think they will get a real run for their money this year.'' The tournament officially begins on Sunday with a pair of games -- Classic Barbarians against England (2 p.m.) followed by the crucial tilt between New Zealand and the US (3.30 p.m.).

England and the Barbarians will form one group along with Australia, while the other section contains New Zealand, US and Bermuda.

Bermuda -- originally expected to be part of the Barbarians line-up -- will now be strengthened by a number of French players, and a Berlitz language guide. Spearheading the French are Guy Spanghero, Henri Cabrol, Roger Fite, Jacques Cimarosti and Jacques Genois.

Bermuda will be represented by Alan Gorbutt, Bill Butterworth and Gareth Davies of Police; Stuart Outerbridge, Danny Forsythe, Ali Nicholl, Dave Taylor, Phil Heaney and Tom Dickson of Renegades; Tony Roache, Pat McHugh, Keiron Peacock and Richard Raistrick of Teachers and John O'Kelly Lynch and Colin Newell of Mariners.

The event, which includes an equal dose of world-class partying along with top-notch rugby, is also on the brink of bigger things with representatives of South Africa here with a view of sending their own team next year and plans to host their own Classic.

As the tournament gains momentum on the world stage, so does media exposure with New Zealand television and newspaper reporters once again on the scene.

Also here will be the CSI network from England, looking to televise the event around the world in 1994.

CSI are producers of rugby union games in Britain and are behind the "Road to Wembley'' programmes on the BBC.

What drives organisers like Kane is an obvious love of the sport, but most of all, he said, "You can do things in Bermuda you can't do elsewhere.

"People are prepared to work hard here, there's so much commitment. There's all these wonderful aspects of Bermuda in addition to its beauty. "Plus we created a void for players who were left off the England squad and who missed the travelling and the camaraderie and so on.'' Besides games on Tuesday, Thursday (Remembrance Day) and the finals on Sunday, November 14, there will be plenty of opportunities for camaraderie with a menagerie of social activities with the Touchline Tavern on game days along with a formal gala banquet on Wednesday night. Not to be forgotten is the infamous party at Number One Shed on Friday, November 12.

But there will be a determined effort to tone down the party image this year, because of the presence -- and pressure -- from CSI, said Kane.

"They've basically said that if you want to sell it, then get away from that alcohol and party image,'' said Kane.

Besides Haden and Matthews, the marquee players of the event will be Andy McIntyre and Chris Roache of Australia and Brian Vizard, the 1991 World Cup captain of the US.

Also on hand will be Mark Donaldson, Dave Loveridge, John Ashworth and Bill Bush of New Zealand and Jeff Probyn of England. Probyn, a veteran player with Wasps and Askeans, drew 37 caps from 1988 to 1993 and was recently left off the British Lions squad.

Kane said that at least two countries other than South Africa want to send sides next year, with Canada and Argentina possibly making the tournament an eight-team affair in '94.

"We're moving towards the stage where a couple of things could happen,'' said Kane, adding, "And we'll probably have to put a professional organisation in place. But you've got to remember that the World Rugby Classic is non-profit event. I mean we don't make a profit, but the money we do make we'd like to put into sport in Bermuda.''