Rugby will play host to the sporting heroes on Tuesday 25 November. The group, who will be travelling with the All Blacks Supporters Club, are Brian Williams (an All Black from 1970 to 1978), Dave Loveridge (All Black from 1978 to 85), John McBeth (New Zealand sports broadcaster and commentator for 30 years), and Keith Quinn (leading New Zealand sports journalist, broadcaster and commentator since 1971).

The tours will take the famous Kiwis around the town and to the Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum, the building with the longest historical connection to the sport in the world.

The museum, which is being prepared for renovation in 2009, is the place where the first rugby footballs were made. It houses a fascinating collection of rugby memorabilia and is a popular tourist attraction for international fans of the sport.

Coincidentally, the Collections Officer responsible for the museum, Angie Irvine, is a New Zealander and is particularly thrilled to see her famous countrymen pay a visit.

Angie said: "It's naturally very exciting to see these heroes of the sport visit the museum, but it has a special personal significance for me since they are household names back in my home country."

The stars will also see the famous Rugby School, where the game was born, and the statue of William Webb Ellis, the schoolboy who invented the game of rugby in a moment of 'fine disregard for the rules' of football.

Councillor Neil Campbell, Rugby Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Culture, said: "It is always a pleasure to see great names from the sport of rugby pay homage to the town where it was born. "Rugby receives 2.2 million visitors every year from all over the world who come to savour the town's cultural heritage. I'm sure the New Zealand stars will find the experience a fascinating one, as so many other visitors have."