In England, rugby players throwing off their clothes at the first opportunity is no new thing but at least they usually wait till they get off the pitch (and are in the bar), before getting started.

In Dunedin, New Zealand, however, every year two teams of sevens go to battle fully starkers.

The nude rugby international, which started as a celebration of New Zealand's national nude day, was held yesterday as a warm-up – although temperatures were reportedly cold enough to prove embarrassing – to the forthcoming match between the All Blacks and France.

Needless to say, there were plenty of tackles flying about with only one interruption … when a fully-clothed streaker ran on to the pitch.