The mullet is back in.
That's according to All Blacks flanker Sam Cane, who is leading a mullet movement among the New Zealand Rugby Championship squad.
The 26-year-old is currently sporting a fine version of the short at the front, long at the back hairstyle.
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With a growing membership that includes Brodie Retallick, Liam Squire, Beauden Barrett and Jordie Barrett, Cane believes the All Blacks' mullet club are the envy of their teammates.
"We have started to see a bit of a trend; the movement has taken off a wee bit," Cane said.
"It's exciting that Beauden and Jordie [Barrett] are on board, but obviously theirs will take a little bit of time.
"That's the beauty of the mullet: it doesn't happen overnight - a lot of patience has to be shown.
"It's been great receiving a few Snapchats from a few First XV players around the country getting on board - it's exciting to see where we can take it.
"We are only a couple months in, so hopefully over the next month or so there can be a bit of growth on the bottom part, reaching down towards the collar."
There has been somewhat of a controversy within the group, however, with Jordie Barrett recently visiting a barber shop.
Cane said the misdemeanour from the young charge has been forgiven due to Barrett's record when it comes to sporting the mullet look.
"To be fair and to his credit, he said he didn't know what he was thinking by getting a haircut the other day.
"To me, it highlighted a little lack of commitment - but what he does have on his side is back in his school days. he rocked a genuine mullet. It's just about getting back there for him."
Barrett and his All Black teammates have a far more pressing issue at their doorstep, however, with the arrival of the Springboks for Saturday night's test at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
A win over South Africa will put New Zealand on the brink of locking up the Rugby Championship title up for another season with two games to play.
The All Blacks pummelled the Springboks 57-0 at Albany in the 2017 tournament before scraping home 28-27 a few weeks later in Cape Town.
Cane believes the latter is one of the toughest tests he has ever played, and expects another motivated South African side in Wellington.
"I cast my mind back to that game in Cape Town, and that was a heck of a tough contest," Cane said.
"Physically they really took to us and it took some of our younger guys to come on and open the game up. We only just snuck home.
"Only a few months ago they really took it to England, so they know how to play good rugby.
"We expect a really physical confrontation, and as a forward pack it's a big challenge for us. If we don't get it right and if we don't dominate the collisions, it's going to be a real tough test for us."
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