Bearded Canuck shaves for Christchurch

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SHEARED BEARD: Adam Kleeberger's beard has been shaved to raise money for the Christchurch earthquake relief fund. The left image show what he will look like clean-shaven.

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Canadian rugby player Adam Kleeberger, who became known for his wildman beard at the Rugby World Cup, has shaved it off for Christchurch.

Kleeberger sheared his 30-centimetre long beard yesterday, raising nearly $6000 for the Movember prostate cancer awareness program and for earthquake relief in Christchurch, of which $3700 will go to the quake cause.

"It's been eight months [of growth] and it's about time it came off," he told Canada's National Post.

"It feels cold. But I don't have to worry about eating ice cream or saucy foods anymore, so that's a plus.

"The beard definitely became bigger than me. It gave fans something to identify with. Even non-fans were drawn to rugby as a result."

Kleeberger said the beard might have enticed Canadians to watch the World Cup, but he believed it was the way the Canucks played that kept them watching.

"The support we received, both here in Canada and in New Zealand, is something the Canadian team hasn't experienced before," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News