Rugby's tsunami charity match isn't just about raising money for victims of the Indian Ocean disaster. For the Southern Hemisphere stars, it's about territorial bragging rights, too.

South coach Rod Macqueen had his first training session Wednesday with players from South Africa, Australia, Samoa and Fiji. They play against a Northern Hemisphere side on Saturday at Twickenham.

"It's a full-on game. I don't know if the perception is that it's going to be a bit of a festival game, but we intend to win," New Zealand's Andrew Mehrtens said.

"The money-raising side of it is taken care of. We're here to play a game, to play it well and to win it."

The northern team - which includes players from England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy - will have its first training session Thursday.

The Rugby Football Union hopes the match will raise STG4 million ($A9.8 million) for the United Nations World Food Program for victims of the December 26 tidal waves. The televised match will kick off at 1430 GMT.

South captain George Gregan said the regional rivalry would ensure a competitive match.

"We've discussed it and we're representing the southern hemisphere," said Gregan, who also captains Australia.

"There are some great players not here, so when we get out there we don't want to let them or ourselves down."

The match comes in the middle of the Super 12 and Six Nations tournaments.

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