Cricket: Charity cricket lures Deans back to NZ

Australian rugby coach Robbie Deans will break ties with the Wallabies soon after their tour ends next month to return for a cricket engagement in Christchurch.

Former Crusaders coach Deans will play in an annual cystic fibrosis cricket fund-raising match in his old home town on December 7.

That falls little more than three days after the Wallabies end their tour with a match against the Barbarians in London.

Deans will captain an Invitational 11 against a Crusaders XI in the cricket fixture joining new Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder and a host of other Canterbury sports identities.

- NZPA