Curlers have done it, recreational hockey players have done, hell … Yorkshire women (Calendar Girls) have done it for charity, too. Now this country’s top female rugby players are doing it — to boost the profile of their sport and for charity.

We’re talking a new nudie calendar.

It’s the fourth time Canada’s rugby women have stripped down for a calendar shoot in an effort to promote positive body images and show the results of training hard, working hard and living a healthy lifestyle. Proceeds from the calendar will be used to support the women’s program as they prepare for the World Cup and 2016 Olympic qualifiers.

“Every woman on this team works so hard at being physically fit and eating properly, it is a reward to have these pictures taken so we can see our bodies in a beautiful light,” says Barbara Mervin, a flanker on the 15s squad and forward on the 7s who is spearheading this year’s calendar effort.

“Playing in such a rough sport, we sometimes lose the beauty that is in it. We hear all the time that we don’t look like rugby players, so there is clearly a stereotype about what women rugby players should look like. But having muscles is very beautiful and being physically fit is very attractive. We are elite athletes and we are proud of our bodies.”

The 16-month 2013 calendar can be ordered online here.

vancouversun.com