LADIES RUGBY TEAM REVEAL STRIP
THESE brave women have stripped off to nothing more than their knee-high socks in the name of charity.
The students, who all play rugby for Cardiff University ladies, decided to take their kit off and bare all for 13 fundraising photos.
The calendar features pictures of a naked lineout, a shot of the girls doing warm-up exercises and an end-of-match team huddle.
“At the start of term I suggested getting together to do some fundraising,” the team’s social secretary Georgia Mansfield explained.
“As a joke a naked calendar was discussed, but none of us actually thought it would happen.
“Some of us were a bit hesitant at the beginning but in the end 17 of the girls were on board.
“Once we started planning we got really excited and had a good laugh getting it all together.”
They took part in the photoshoot during the second week of October on a cold and misty morning.
But low temperatures and mud didn’t put them off.
“We got there really early to make sure there was nobody else around,” 20-yearold law student Georgia said.
“The atmosphere was great but we were all quite e apprehensive.
“We did a three-two-one e countdown and all droppedd our dressing gowns togeth- er.
“It was the most empow- ering thing I’ve ever done.
“In a rugby team youu have to have 15 differentt body types. If we were all l the same size we would d never win a game.
“We psyched each otherr up for it and forgot that we were actually naked.
“We wouldn’t have been able to do it without each other.”
Georgia described it as one of the best experiences of her life and said she now feels more confident about her body.
She said they were all complimenting one another, and being able to be so open has given her, and many others, a confidence boost on the pitch and in everyday life.
The photos were taken by two photography students and the players haven’t yet seen the final calendar.
It is available to buy from Cardiff University’s student union for £7 and on the student union website.
Proceeds from the sale will be split between Cardiff University Ladies Rugby Football Club and CoppaFeel!, a charity which aims to stamp out late detection of breast cancer.
Georgia added: “I can’t wait to see us on the wall.”