Charlie Faumuina is to lose his trademark beard for charity - but will grow it back. Photo / Getty Images
The hard work has begun early for Charlie Faumuina, the All Blacks prop returning to Blues duty in a bid to lose weight for the new season.
The New Zealand players' collective dictates the All Blacks are on leave for another fortnight, but having decided he is "probably a bit
out of shape'', Faumuina returned yesterday, deciding it's easier to train with his teammates than by himself.
Faumuina, who enjoyed a family holiday in Rarotonga during his break, is the first from the national team to return fulltime to the Blues, though Steven Luatua, Frank Halai, Francis Saili and Charles Piutau have put in appearances.
"What we want him to do is get the balance,'' Blues coach John Kirwan said of 27-year-old Faumuina. "He is one of the key guys in our organisation and we are really proud of what the All Blacks have done and we want them to have a rest. But sometimes it's easier to come in and do the fitness work. It's pretty hard for these guys to train by themselves sometimes so we're really happy to have them.''
Faumuina had one of his best seasons in 2013, capitalising on Owen Franks' injuries to play 10 tests, including four starts.
