Ten that catch the eye in this year's Rugby Classic

Girvan Dempsey

The 35-year-old Irishman was always safe under the high ball and attacking threat with the ball in hand.

He played most of his career at full back and earned 83 caps for his country.

Dempsey was a member of the Irish squad in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups.

The Leinsterman is his country’s fourth most capped players. He is also fourth on the Irish all-time international try scorer list.

He only announced his retirement from the game at the end of last season. n

Malcolm O’Kelly

The Leinster lock racked up 92 international caps in a professional career that spanned more than 12 years.

The 6ft 8in giant was a mainstay in the boiler room of the Irish pack from the late 1990s onwards.

Big Mal played for the British Lions in 2001 and was selected again in 2005 — but had to withdraw because of a late injury. O’Kelly was known as an honest grafter about the park and in 2005 became Ireland’s most capped player. He has since been overtaken by Brian O’Driscoll. n

Gordon Bulloch

The Scottish hooker is his country’s

second most capped rugby player with 75 international caps. The pugnacious Celt was always solid in the scrum and a mobile forward who thrived in loose play.

He played in the 2003 World Cup and was made captain of Scotland in 2004.

The 35-year-old was selected for the 2001 and 2005 Lions tours and captained the Lions on three occasions on the 2005 tour.

He made a total of nine appearances for the Lions. n

Justin Marshall

The Kiwi scrum half is perhaps ‘the’ standout player to be taking to the pitch at this year’s Rugby Classic.

Marshall is one of the best players to have filled the number nine jersey for his country and he is also the most capped New Zealand scrum half.

In his day he was a shrewd tactician and dependable leader. Marshall had a great pass and was always dangerous around the edges of rucks and mauls. He won 81 caps for his country and scored 140 points. n

Kevin Maggs

The barrel-chested centre was always a handful for opposing back lines.

His direct, no-nonsense approach meant he was always an attacking threat who often broke through. Maggs was capped 70 times for Ireland during a professional international career that spanned eight years.

He played for his country in the 1999 and 2003 World Cups.

Now 36, Maggs is the player coach of Moseley Rugby Club in the U.K. n

Ramiro Pez

Although this talented footballer was born in Argentina he ended up becoming a regular feature in the number 10 shirt for Italy.

He made his international debut against the Samoans in 2000 and went on to play for the Azore on 40 occasions.

Pez scored 254 points in his

international career, which was mostly while he played at outside half. n

Stephane Glas

The 35-year-old French international racked up 37 test matches for his country — mostly in the centre.

He played in typical Gallic fashion always looking for the chance to run and keep the ball in hand.

Glas, like many French backs, has the ability to turn a game on its head — so expect the

unexpected when he’s in possession.

The evergreen Frenchman was still making the occasional appearance for his club, Stade Francais, up until last year — so we can expect him to be in good

shape. 

Bobby Skinstad

Rhodesian-born Skinstad played 42 times for the Springboks and scored 11 tries for his country.

He played most of his career at number eight – but also filled in on the flank when he had to. Skinstad has an excellent pair of hands and sharp rugby brain.

He’s not just a huge physical presence for any team but an inspiration leader of men too.

This Springbok star has joined the punditry profession now – and commentates on games for TV audiences in South Africa. n

Robbie Fleck

You can be sure of one thing about this 35-year-old Springbok centre: you will get 110 per cent from him.

He played 31 tests for his country and has left a legacy of being one of the most committed and passionate men ever to pull on the South African

shirt.In his hey day he had blistering pace and was ferocious in the tackle.

‘Flekkie’ as he is affectionately called, was a handful for backlines across the world and his spirit and love of the game make him a must see. n

Filo Tiatia

The New Zealand-born Tiatia is a household name in his home country as well as the valleys of Wales.

The 39-year-old giant relishes the contact situation and piles into the tackle with everything he has got.

He played most of his early rugby for Wellington winning two caps for the All Blacks.

But he has spent the last part of his career with the Ospreys — becoming something of a cult figure. He recently retired from the professional game but stayed on as coach of the Welsh outfit.