Percy Montgomery, South Africa’s most capped player, will return to Bermuda for this year’s World Rugby Classic to help the Springboks defend their title.

Montgomery, who is also his country’s top points scorer, kicked two conversions in last year’s final against Argentina, which South Africa won 14-7 at the North Field, National Sports Centre.

The 2007 World Cup winner joins former Test team-mates Stefan Terblanche, known as a ruthless finisher during his decorated career, and De Wet Barry, a tough-tackling centre, in a star-studded South Africa squad.

Also included in the Springboks’ party will be Dale Heidtman, a superstar of the sevens game, Ryan Strudwick, a former stalwart for Aviva Premiership side London-Irish, and Gloucester Rugby legend Jake Boer.

The Springboks will be without Victor Matfield, last year’s captain, who has since reignited his international career with South Africa, having initially retired at the end of the 2011 World Cup.

Italy have included New Zealand-born Paul Griffen, a former Italy scrum half, and Ramiro Pez, who was born in Argentina but made 40 appearances for Italy as a fly half. Also sprinkling some stardust on this year’s tournament is Mike Tindall, a World Cup winner with England in 2003.

Tindall, who made 75 appearances during an England career spanning 11 years, will lead a Classic Lions side that includes his World Cup-winning team-mate, Iain Balshaw, who retired at the end of last season with Biarritz, the French Top 14 club.

Balshaw, a wing or full back, won 35 caps for England and was also a long-time team-mate of Tindall’s at Gloucester.

The Lions will be hoping that Tindall, who is married to Zara Phillips, the eldest granddaughter of the Queen, and Balshaw can add attacking élan to a team that often appeared one-dimensional last year, losing to Argentina in the semi-finals.

New Zealand return to the Classic for the first time since 2011 with a strong side that appears hungry to make up for lost time.

Leading the All Blacks will be Reuben Thorne, who played 50 times for his country, 23 as captain.

He will be joined by former international prop Kees Meuws, the assistant coach of the Highlanders in the Super Rugby tournament, and flanker Scott Robertson, who won 23 caps for his country.

New Zealand, who won the Classic title in 2009 and 2010, will be the only Antipodeans in this year’s classic, with Australia, the 2012 winners, not included in the line-up of teams.

A team from the British Army, who will play against Atlanta Renegades, will also take part in the Classic, with both sides taking on a Bermuda Old Boys XV.

The Classic gets under way on November 8. There will be a friendly between the Bermuda Old Boys and Renegades the next day with 1pm start before the Classic opener between Italy and Classic Springboks at 2.45pm. The Classic Lions play United States at 4pm. All games will be played at North Field.