Rome mass for Hughes

The Vatican cricket team will attend a mass in Rome for Phillip Hughes, as family and friends prepare to farewell him in his home town of Macksville on the NSW mid-north coast.

Australia's ambassador to the Holy See, John McCarthy, has arranged for Mass to be offered in Rome's chapel of the Venerable English College at 6pm on Tuesday (4am AEDT on Wednesday), for Hughes.

The Vatican Cricket XI, or St Peter's Cricket Club, will attend along with representatives from the Pontifical Council for Culture and supporters of the Vatican team.

Hughes died last week after being struck by a ball while batting at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

His death, at 25, has sparked an outpouring of grief around the world.

He will be farewelled in his hometown Macksville on Wednesday.

The TV coverage for all networks will begin at 1.30pm (AEDT).