Ryan Crotty shaving his beard for charity

Ryan Crotty will feel like he is burying an old friend when his beard is shaved for charity tomorrow.




The All Blacks midfielder adopted the furry look when the Crusaders had a beard growing competition during their tour of South Africa last April and on his return to New Zealand he declined to reach for the razor.




The arrival of the "Beard of Awesome", a term used by friends and team-mates, was official.

Later it was to have its own Facebook and Twitter accounts.




When former team-mate Robbie Fruean required heart surgery a few months later Crotty vowed to …