Rugby is a brutal, muddy, and intensely physical sport. It’s about grit. When you think of the pitch, you think of mouthguards and taped ears, not necessarily skin. Yet, the phenomenon of nude female rugby players posing for annual calendars has become a bizarrely consistent subculture within the sport over the last twenty years. It’s one of those things that starts as a joke in a locker room and ends up raising fifty grand for breast cancer research.
It’s complicated, though.
Some people see it as empowerment; others see it as the only way female athletes can get a shred of media attention in a landscape dominated by men's leagues.
The origins of the "Naked Calendar" tradition
This didn't start with a marketing firm. It started with broke college students and local clubs. Most female rugby teams, especially at the grassroots or university level, get almost zero funding. We're talking about players paying out of pocket for their own socks, travel, and post-match oranges. Back in the early 2000s, teams like the Oxford University Women’s Rugby Football Club (OUWRFC) realized that bake sales weren't cutting it.
They needed something that would actually sell.
So, they stripped down. But they kept the boots on. The aesthetic of nude female rugby players usually involves a very specific juxtaposition: the softness of the human body against the harshness of the sport. You’ll see a line-out lift where the jumper is mid-air, completely bare, but supported by teammates in a display of pure athletic strength. It’s high-contrast. It’s also incredibly effective for fundraising.
Take the Cardiff University Ladies’ RFC. They’ve been doing this for years. They don’t just do it for fun; they do it to survive the season. When you see these photos, you aren't looking at professional models. You’re looking at tighthead props and fly-halves who spend their Tuesdays getting tackled in the rain.
✨ Don't miss: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
Why the controversy won't go away
Is it "empowering" or just "objectifying"? That's the million-dollar question. Honestly, the answer depends on who you ask and what day of the week it is. Critics argue that by featuring nude female rugby players, the sport is leaning into the "sex sells" trope. The logic goes like this: if people only care about women's rugby when the clothes come off, are we actually helping the sport grow?
It’s a fair point.
However, many players disagree. They argue that these calendars celebrate "rugby bodies"—bodies that are muscular, bruised, and don't fit the typical runway mold. In a world of filtered Instagram posts, seeing a scrum-half with powerful thighs and a genuine smile can be a radical act of body positivity.
The impact of the "Real Bodies" movement
In recent years, the tone of these projects has shifted. It’s less about being "cheeky" and more about raw representation.
- Diversity in shape: Rugby requires every body type, from the tall, lean locks to the powerful, stocky front row.
- Visibility: For many clubs, the calendar is the only time they get local press coverage.
- Charity ties: Almost every major "nude" rugby project is tied to a cause like CoppaFeel! or various mental health charities.
I remember reading about a team in the North of England that used their calendar proceeds to fund a youth girls' program because the local council pulled their budget. That’s the reality. It’s a means to an end. It’s about keeping the lights on at the clubhouse.
The shift toward professionalization
As women's rugby moves toward a fully professional model—think the TikTok Women’s Six Nations or the massive growth of the Red Roses in England—the "nude calendar" is becoming less common at the elite level. Professional players now have contracts. They have brand deals with O2 or Adidas. They don't need to sell a calendar to buy a new set of tackle bags.
🔗 Read more: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
But at the amateur level? It’s thriving.
The grassroots game is where the heart of this tradition lives. It’s a bonding experience. If you’ve ever stood in a cold field with fifteen of your best friends trying to hide behind a strategically placed rugby ball while a photographer yells about lighting, you’ve bonded for life.
What the data actually shows about these campaigns
It's not just about the "shock factor." There is a legitimate financial engine here.
Most university calendars sell between 500 and 2,000 copies. At $15 or $20 a pop, that’s a massive windfall for a club that usually operates on a four-figure annual budget. In 2014, the Oxford University team famously raised over £10,000 for Mind, the mental health charity. That wasn't a fluke. That was a calculated, well-executed campaign that utilized the viral nature of nude female rugby players to fund essential services.
People buy them because they support the cause, but also because the photography is often genuinely artistic. It’s not "adult" content in the traditional sense. It’s more like "The Body Issue" by ESPN—a celebration of what the human form can actually do when pushed to its limits.
Breaking down the logistics
You can't just go out and take photos. It’s a whole thing.
💡 You might also like: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
- Consent is everything. Every player has to be 100% on board. No pressure.
- Professional photographers. Most clubs trade "exposure" or a small fee for a local pro who can handle the lighting.
- Sponsorship. Local businesses often pay to have their logo on the "January" or "February" page.
- Distribution. Most of this happens via Shopify or local pubs.
It's a grassroots marketing masterclass.
Addressing the "Male Gaze" argument
Look, we have to talk about it. Does this cater to the male gaze? Probably. Does that matter if the money goes to breast cancer research? That’s where the nuance lies. Many players feel that by taking the photos on their own terms, with their own teammates, they are reclaiming their bodies from that gaze. They aren't being "captured"—they are posing.
There’s a massive difference between a paparazzi shot and a coordinated team effort.
The future of the rugby calendar
Will we still see nude female rugby players in calendars ten years from now? Maybe not. As the sport gains more mainstream traction and TV rights deals get bigger, the need for these "stunt" fundraisers might fade. But for now, they serve a purpose. They fill a gap that the sporting establishment has ignored for decades.
If you're a fan of the sport, you know it's about community. If a calendar helps a team in a small town stay afloat, most people in the rugby world are going to support it.
Actionable steps for clubs and fans
If you are part of a club considering a fundraiser like this, or if you're a fan looking to support the move toward better funding, here’s the reality of the situation:
- Prioritize Safety: If a club decides to go the calendar route, ensure a "closed set" environment. Use a photographer who has experience with athletic shoots, not just portraits.
- Clarify the "Why": The most successful campaigns are the ones that are transparent about where the money goes. "We need $5k for a new scrum machine" is a much better pitch than "Buy our calendar."
- Support the Sport Directly: If the idea of a nude calendar makes you uncomfortable, the best response is to buy tickets to games, buy official merchandise, and watch the matches on TV. Higher viewership numbers lead to better sponsorship, which eventually makes the "nude fundraiser" unnecessary.
- Check Local Regulations: Always ensure your university or club union is okay with the branding being used in this way. Some unions have strict rules about using official logos in non-sanctioned media.
The conversation around nude female rugby players is ultimately a conversation about the value of women's sports. We shouldn't need calendars to fund athletic excellence, but as long as the funding gap exists, players will continue to find creative—and sometimes bare—ways to keep their sport alive.
Next time you see one of these headlines, look past the "clickbait" aspect. Look at the names of the charities. Look at the names of the clubs. These are athletes doing whatever it takes to play the game they love. That’s as "rugby" as it gets.