Sin Bin

Oxford University ladies strip off for charity

ESPN Staff

The team posed at Oxford's ground as well as around the city © Unknown Enlarge

While the media attention on university rugby will start - and almost entirely end - with next week's Varsity match at Twickenham, Oxford University's women's team have ensured they will share some of the limelight by releasing a 'naked' charity calendar for 2014.

The idea came to the players after some of them helped sell a similar offering by the men's side last year and were told: "If it was you in the pictures then we'd buy one."

The tasteful black-and-white shots were taken around the city and proceeds from the calendar will be used to raise money for Mind Your Head, Oxford's mental health awareness campaign.

"It was mostly hilarious, really very cold, and absolutely worth it for such a good cause," Tatiana Cutts told the Daily Mail. "'It was a bit nerve-racking at first but after a minute it was good fun and great for team bonding. We were lucky it was a sunny day, but I was still absolutely freezing in the picture. We ended up in the river twice, it was utterly miserable."

Asked if she thought the calendar was demeaning, Cutts said: "'What we're doing is celebrating strong women. These girls are athletics, these are their body shapes, and they should be celebrated."

Club president Elizabeth Dubois told the paper: 'With this calendar the club hopes to highlight the inclusiveness of women's rugby. When you play women's rugby people have a stereotypical image of you and we wanted to confront that. We have girls of all shapes and sizes, and studying all types of academic subject."

The calendar can be purchased by clicking here. All proceeds go to Mind Your Head, Oxford's mental health awareness campaign

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