Otley Rugby Club is to celebrate the glorious day when the Northern Division defeated the mighty All Blacks before a crowd of over 10,000 at Cross Green.

In November the Otley club will stage a series of events to remember that glorious day - November 17, 1979.

There will be a series of functions centred around a grand commemorative dinner on November 17.

Players and officials from the original match have been invited and acceptances have so far been received from Bill Beaumont, Fran Cotton, Steve Smith, Nigel Melville, Peter Squires, Alan Old, Peter Dixon, Mike Slemen and Peter Williams.

The referee, Alan Hosie, and his two touch judges, Colin High and Fred Howard, will also be there.

Otley RUFC confidently expect many more players from the North and are pursuing the New Zealand RFU to locate any All Blacks who may be available.

A video of the game will be shown and guests will be entertained by Dr Terry Crystal, raconteur extraordinary and former doctor to the England Rugby Union team.

All attendees will receive a presentation pack containing a copy of the video, a commemorative brochure, a copy of the original programme and other souvenirs of the occasion.

Tables of ten for the evening cost £800, or individual tickets at £80, for this black tie event, to which ladies are more than welcome.

They may be booked through the club secretary, Marc Lawrence, phone/fax 01943 461180, mobile 07949 272434, or David Vowles, phone 01535 662075, fax 01535 690060, mobile 07860 462413 e-mail: hansonvowles@netscape.net to whom any enquiries may be directed.

Also scheduled for the nights of November 16, 18 and 19 are video nights in the clubhouse when the video of the game will be shown and a light supper served. Tickets for these evenings must be pre-booked at £5 each.

The one-hour Rugby Special recording of the game will be available on VHS and DVD from November 22 at £10 plus £1.50 post and packing.

Details of major sponsors will shortly be available.