By Caroline Lewis and Brandon Smuke

Staff Writers

 

The second annual women’s rugby calendar is a powerful manifestation of the team’s dedication to feminine empowerment through sick rugby moves. On the other hand, if you just want to see some half-naked chicks, it’s good for that, too. The girl’s rugby team is raising money the old-fashioned way: by showing a little skin.

    If you already find yourself getting a little too “excited” — or, more likely, if you already have one foot out the door to go boycott the calendar for degrading women — take a deep breath, calm down. This is no Playboy bunny calendar.

“When women take their clothes off, they are often seen as little pin-ups,” said Robin Leslie, a freshman team member and calendar babe. “This is a chance for women to show their beauty through their strength, rather than submissiveness.”

    The girls may have taken a break from the sport to do some sexy photo shoots, but they clearly still had rugby on the brain. The calendar this year is called “Rugby 101.” Diana Frame, a senior on the team, came up with the theme. The calendar months have photos depicting team members in rugby formations or doing rugby moves, and explains them. The first calendar, which was a big success when it came out last year, focused more on the beauty of women who play rugby, whereas this calendar shifts the focus to the beauty of rugby as a sport.

    A deep appreciation for the beauty of rugby as a sport will obviously be the motivating factor for those purchasing the calendar, but stop jerking off with your rugby ball for just a second and focus on the nakedness. Well, it will be tasteful, you perv! You get to see a lot of the rugby team, sure, but there was definitely a policy of no nips, pubes, or cooch.

The team exposed enough during the shoots to freeze their bare asses off, though. Since they were showing rugby moves, the photos were all taken on the rugby pitch.

“Our last shoot was in the rain,” said Sara Boxell, a freshman team member. “It was very, very cold. I don’t think you can tell in the pictures, but we were dying.”

Anna Beeke, a senior on the team, took all of the pictures at the shoots, and most of the rest of the team posed. The majority of the calendar months will show group shots, and a few will show two girls together. There is only one solo shot of Marne Litfin showing off a rugby move.

When the shoots first started, some girls were uncomfortable, but they soon learned the wonders of naked field sports.

    “As it went on, inhibitions dropped,” said Boxell. Presumably when inhibitions were at a low point, they even got to have some dirty fun. Not like that! It was a mud fight. Oh, wait…

With that in mind, the calendar is on sale now! Its release party will be held at the ‘Sco at 8pm on Thursday, December 14th.  Slideshows of the photos will be playing on laptops around the ‘Sco.

    “We might have people re-enacting them, too,” said Leslie.

The calendars cost $15 each, and if last year was any indication, people will be more than willing to shell out the cash. After all, there are many men’s rugby calendars out there (apparently), but not a whole lot of women’s rugby calendars; this is a golden opportunity.

Many team members spent countless hours publicizing and marketing the calendar by contacting other colleges, bookstores, websites, and rugby newsletters about selling it. Last year’s calendar made thousands of dollars and was very well received.

    If you are in need of a calendar; are looking for that perfect non-denominational holiday gift; are truly interested in learning about the sport of rugby and studying moves, plays, and formations, want to support athletic, empowered women; or just plain get off on cute half-naked girls, “Rugby 101” is calling your name. Don’t try to resist it. Have you seen the girl’s rugby team? They’ll tackle you.