Former Wallaby prop Matt Dunning heads to Balmain

FORMER Wallabies prop Matt Dunning will play with Balmain, but the Muzzled Wolves are unsure if Ryan Cross will return.

FORMER Wallabies prop Matt Dunning will play with Balmain this season, but the Muzzled Wolves are unsure if fellow ex-international Ryan Cross will return.

Dunning, who played with the Waratahs and Western Force during a 10 year career in Super Rugby, has agreed to play for Balmain in subbies division one.

The 34-year-old made some cameos for Hornsby Lions in division two last season after returning from a shoulder reconstruction.

Dunning, who played for the Wallabies 45 times including the 2003 World Cup final, follows a list of big names to don the black and gold hoops. Then Wallabies Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell played a one-off game for the club in 2010, while French cult figure Sebastian Chabal played in an exhibition game last year.

Balmain president Warren Livingstone said: "It's more about (Dunning) coming down and enjoying something a bit different."

But the future of former Wallabies outside back Cross is still unknown.

Cross helped the Muzzled Wolves secure promotion in 2012, but is yet to make a decision on his playing future.