How to win The World Cup!
Hayman inspires hairy approach to World Cup
Rugby fans are being urged to cast aside their razors in a show of unkempt national unity designed to spur the All Blacks to World Cup victory.
The call to all good men - and women - has been made by Hayman's Beard, a lobby group calling on All Black prop Carl Hayman to grow back his beard.
Hayman's Beard wanted "all Kiwis" to grow beards between now and the World Cup in October, to show their support for the All Blacks.
A scientifically hairy poll on its website blog indicated 92 percent of more than 1000 respondents thought a hirsute approach was needed if the All Blacks were to triumph in France.
After urging Hayman to "Bring Back The Beard" the group was now presenting a new face to its campaign, spokesman Jon Scrivin, a 28-year-old Auckland IT professional, told NZPA.
Mr Scrivin said his beard had been underway for a week and a half and was "coming through nicely".
A single man, he admitted facial hair could prove a woman repellent, but it was a cost he was willing to pay "at the moment, the cause is more important".
He encouraged the fairer sex "if they are able to grow a beard, by all means do ... we don't want to exclude women".
His fear was even rugby focused men might draw a line with their "better halves" taking up the cause.
"Whilst our main focus is of course on the return of The Beard of Hayman, we also feel that the time is right to begin a national campaign to support the team as they head towards the World Cup," he said.
"If the All Blacks are to win the World Cup this year, they're going to need every advantage they can get, and that includes Hayman's Beard."
Thousands of New Zealanders had joined the cause since the blog started, Mr Scrivin said, likening it to the Red Socks campaign to added colour to America's Cup yachting.
"With the rugby World Cup only weeks away, it is essential that Kiwis everywhere throw down their razors and present a united, hairy front to the world." - NZPA
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Go the All Blacks - bring on the Beard :)
