Percy Montgomery back at Rodney Parade

Nov 4 2007 Wales on Sunday

PERCY Montgomery, who won the World Cup with South Africa, is set to return to Wales in the first round of the Heineken Cup.

The former Dragons superstar will be back with Perpignan at the place he always claimed rescued his career – Rodney Parade.

Monty will go head-to-head with a host of his former Dragon teammates in the opening Pool 1 clash, next Friday. The full-back left the Dragons two years ago and returned home to relaunch his Springbok career.

But South Africa’s record points holder isn’t the only World Cup star who will play in European rugby’s premier tournament.

Monty’s skipper Jon Smit is expected to make his debut for Clermont Auvergne against the Scarlets in France in the Pool 5 opener.

Argentine Juan Martin Hernandez, arguably the star of the World Cup, will be part of the Stade Francais side who host the Blues in Paris in round three of the tournament.

All Black lock Chris Jack makeswill make his first bow for Saracens, while his former teammate Byron Kelleher will play for French giants Toulouse. The All Blacks leading try-scorer Doug Howlett is another who will soon land in Europe after signing for Munster.

Sixteen of the 20 playing squads the 2007 World Cup will have players in this season’s Heineken Cup.

Only Australia, Japan, Namibia and Portugal will not be representedhave players from the national squads in the tournament.

And the bulk of the Pumas squad, which shocked the rugby world and finished as the third best side in the World Cup, now ply their trade in Europe.

But did you know that since its launch, back in 1995, 37 World Cup winners have played in the Heineken Cup.

That means Springboks, Wallabies and Englishman have all strutted their stuff in a tournament now regarded as the equivalent of Test rugby.