Crossword Genius

Hairstyle in sport coming back in various tones (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tonsure

'hairstyle' is the definition.
(hairstyle used by monks)

'sport coming back in various tones' is the wordplay.
'sport' becomes 'ru' (rugby union).
'coming back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'various' is an anagram indicator.
'ru' in reverse letter order is 'ur'.
'tones' with letters rearranged gives 'tonse'.
'ur' going inside 'tonse' is 'TONSURE'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for tonsure that I've seen before include "Removal of locks" , "Monastic hairstyle" , "Shaved crown of a monk's head" , "Monk's hairstyle" , "Shaven spot on monk's head" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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