Felipe Contepomi, one of Argentina’s most decorated players, has joined the list of star names set to grace this year’s World Rugby Classic at the North Field, National Sports Centre.

Contepomi, who was capped 87 times, will lead a Classic Pumas side that will be hoping to go one better this time around, having lost to South Africa 14-7 in last year’s final.

In 2001, the 37-year-old inside centre scored 25 points in Argentina’s famous 30-16 win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium. He also helped condemn France to their first defeat in the Stade Vélodrome in 2004, and in 2006 was part of the Pumas side that earned their inaugural victory over England at Twickenham.

Contepomi enjoyed success in Europe playing for Bristol in the second tier of English rugby from 2001 to 2003, scoring 769 points before moving to Leinster, where he won the Magners League in 2007-8 and the Heineken Cup in 2008-9. He also played for Toulon and Stade Français in the French Top 14.

Among the leading lights at this year’s Classic will be Percy Montgomery, South Africa’s most capped player.

The 2007 World Cup winner joins former Test team-mates Stefan Terblanche and De Wet Barry in a star-studded South Africa squad. Also sprinkling some stardust on this year’s tournament is Mike Tindall, a World Cup winner with England in 2003.

Tindall made 75 appearances during an England career spanning 11 years.

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.

The opening game of the tournament pits Italy against South Africa on November 9 2.45pm.

The Classic Lions play United States at 4pm. All games will be held at North Field.