One of rugby's most celebrated games will be reprised when the All Blacks play Munster in a midweek tour match in November.

The New Zealand Rugby Union today confirmed the match for Tuesday, November 18, in Limerick following an invitation from Irish officials to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Munster's famous 12-0 defeat of the All Blacks in 1978.

It will also officially open a renovated Thomond Park, the ground where the All Blacks were humbled before going on to complete their first grand slam tour of Europe.

The game is the final addition to New Zealand's end-of-year tour schedule which features six matches, starting with a test against Australia in Hong Kong before they attempt their third successful grand slam tour with tests against Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England.

The Munster clash, the first midweek tour fixture for the All Blacks in seven years, falls between the Irish and Welsh tests.

All Blacks manager Darren Shand today said the size of the touring squad, while not yet determined, would be sufficient to produce fresh players for the match.

It will be a challenging match against the powerful Irish side, who boast former All Blacks winger Doug Howlett and this morning (NZ time) qualified for the Heineken Cup final by beating Saracens in their semifinal.

Munster weren't the same power 30 years ago but toppled a powerful All Blacks side that was led by Graham Mourie and featured household names such as wingers Stu Wilson and Bryan Williams centre Bruce Robertson, locks Andy Haden and Frank Oliver and prop Gary Knight.

Roared on by 12,000 people, the game is commemorated annually in Limerick and has had songs and play written in its honour.

Mourie later recalled that when he ran down the player's tunnel at the end of the game, a Munster fan leaned from the grandstand and said "you were lucky to get nil."

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said the game served twin purposes.

"We are delighted to be part of another chapter that also has commercial benefit for both teams," Tew said in a statement.

"One of our aims is to find additional revenue to support the game in New Zealand. As rugby people, we're glad to see it take the shape of a midweek match."

The game in Hong Kong will also be a key money spinner for the NZRU.

Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald said the match in Limerick had historic connotations

"I can't think of a better way to celebrate such an auspicious occasion than for Munster to play one of the top-ranked teams in the world in our own stadium," he said.

All Blacks' confirmed tour schedule:

Nov 1: v Australia at Hong Kong

Nov 8: v Scotland at Edinburgh

Nov 15: v Ireland at Dublin

Nov 18: v Munster at Limerick

Nov 22: v Wales at Cardiff

Nov 29: v England at London

Munster Rugby has announced the signing of All Black Doug Howlett, who will commence a two and a half year contract on January 1st 2008, subject to medical and fitness clearance and the player obtaining a valid work permit.
Munster Rugby Director of Coaching Declan Kidney says “We are delighted to have someone of Doug’s calibre and quality joining the squad. A lot of credit must go to Munster Rugby CEO Garrett Fitzgerald and outgoing Manager Jerry Holland for acquiring Doug’s services in such a complex market.”
“There’s a lot of rugby to be played in the next few months, however we are looking forward to welcoming Doug to the Munster fold on January 1st.”

Munster Rugby CEO Garrett Fitzgerald says “Doug is a world class player at the peak of his playing career and is respected by all that know him. Doug agreeing to join Munster is a great boost for our supporters, players and management. We wish him well in the RWC and look forward to him and his family arriving in Ireland.”

Speaking on the move Howlett said “This was a very big decision to make. I have had an amazing rugby career in New Zealand and I am grateful to every person who has worked with me and contributed to that.

“I consider next year at Munster as a fantastic opportunity to play for another great club and experience a different lifestyle with my family,” says Howlett.

Twenty eight year old Howlett is currently the top try scorer in Super rugby. He made his All Blacks debut in 2000 against Tonga and has since played 60 games for the All Blacks, including 59 Tests, scoring 43 tries. He is just four tries short of breaking Christian Cullen’s all-time All Blacks Test try-scoring record.

At Super 14 level, Howlett became the seventh New Zealand player to reach 100 Super 14 games and with six tries in the 2007 competition he also set a new record for the most Super 14 tries with 59. For Auckland he has played 58 games and has scored 50 tries for the province.

Career overview since 1997 –
104 Super 14 caps - 99 for the Blues (59 tries)
58 provincial caps (50 tries)
59 test caps (43 tries – prior to Rugby World Cup)

New Zealand Maori captain Rua Tipoki is set to team up with Munster subject to him getting medical clearance and obtaining a work permit.
The 31 year old centre captained the Maori in the recent Churchill Cup competition in England and was one of the beaten finalists' stand out players.
After an unforgettable Air New Zealand Cup season with North Harbour in 2006, during which he captained the team to Ranfurly Shield
victory, Tipoki moved to Christchurch to take up a contract with Canterbury. He was subsequently included in the Crusaders squad for the
Rebel Sport Super 14 and last started for the Crusaders as centre pertner to Casey Laulala in the Super 14 match against the Hurricanes at the Jade Stadium in Christchurch in April.
He played Super 12 with the Highlander and Auckland Blues and after a stint in Japan, Tipoki returned to New Zealand and was one of the stand-out players in Bay of Plenty's Ranfurly Shield success, and Air New Zealand NPC top-four performance in 2004.

He was outstanding for the New Zealand Maori against the British and Irish Lions, during a season that saw him captain North Harbour in the Air New Zealand NPC and he brings a wealth of experience into the Munster set-up.

Rua Tipoki: 5’11” (1.78m) – 14st (89kg).
Born 11th August 1975 in Gisborne New Zealand.
Has played NPC with East Coast, Bay of Plenty & North Harbour
Has played Super 12 with Highlanders (2000), Blues (99/01/05/06) Crusaders (07)
New Zealand Maori since 2003
New Zealand A top try scorer on tour to France
New Zealand 7s