make an impact at this year's World Rugby Classic.

Blanco, who retired in April from international rugby after the Five Nations Championship, will be joined in Bermuda from November 7-14 by Jean-Patrick Lescaboura, Phillipe Dintrans and Pascal Ondarts as France attempt to win over Bermuda fans after a mediocre showing in 1990.

Such was the disappointment that a full French team was out of the question the following year, leading to only three members being invited to help form the first Bermuda Invitational squad.

That honours now goes to a combination of Irish, Scottish and Welsh players who will help comprise what should be the strongest Bermuda team in tournament history.

In 35-year-old Blanco who won 95 caps for his country and received the National Merit for a sterling career that spanned 13 years, there is a more serious tone to France's approach.

Chief organiser John Kane yesterday said that the French now have a better appreciation for Classic rugby, played by mostly ex-internationals over the age of 33. They have played recently against the United States and England.

Lescaboura holds the French record for points in an international, Dintrans is his country's most capped hooker and Ondarts in a member of the 1991 World Cup team.

Also returning from `exile' are the United States, who have three members of the '91 World Cup team in tow -- full-back Ray Nelson, prop Fred Paoli and number eight Brian Vizard. They will be hopeful of success having earned a draw against New Zealand in the US last year.

Of course, four-time defending champions New Zealand will be the favourites followed by last year's runners-up England and Australia.

Wayne Shelford, the former All Black skipper, who has been awaiting the call for the past two years, joins a largely unchanged squad.

Doug Rollerson, Fred Woodman, Andy Donald, Mark Donaldson and Mark Shaw return, while Alan Whetton makes his first appearance.

Andy Haden, having coached the current All Blacks in the third Test victory last week over the British Lions, returns as skipper.

England, with a makeshift squad, were narrow losers in last year's final. The squad returns to normality this year with players the quality of Dusty Hare, Tony Swift, Huw Davies, Jeff Probyn, Paul Ackford and David Trick included.

Australia, having provided the game of the 1992 classic in a semifinal defeat to New Zealand, are expected to send a team that will comprise the best of their two previous squads.

Bermuda, assisted by Canadian and Argentinian internationals last year, will have a decidedly British look this year.

Invitations have been issued to Ireland's Hugo MacNeill, Trevor Ringland, Keith Crossan, Philip Matthews and Willie Anderson while Scotland's David Sole, John Jeffrey, Finlay Calder and Keith Robertson have also been invited.

Wales had been asked to provide Allan Phillips, Pete Morgan and Bleddyn Bowen.

The Classic opens with preliminary contests on November 7, first-round matches on the 9th, semifinals on the 11th and the finals on the 14th.

CLASSIC COMBINATION -- The combination of Irish, Scottish and Welsh players should form the strongest Bermuda team in World Rugby Classic history this November. Shown here is action from the 1991 Classic.