Calendar boys show what they're made of - all in a good cause

Dec 1 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

THESE burly rugby players have braved the cold to strip down to their bare essentials.

The team from Houghton RFC didn’t think twice when approached to go nude for a charity calendar.

It sold more than 200 copies even before the final pictures were taken and is expected to raise hundreds of pounds for breast cancer research.

Charlie Plummer, 28, captain of the first team, said more players turned up for the photo shoot than they did for training. He said: “It’s going really well to be far, it seems to be a really popular subject.

“We’re doing it to raise money for breast cancer research. A close friend of mine had a very close scare and it really does bring it home.

“The team does a lot of fundraising for different charities but this is the first time we have done anything like this.

“The idea was to sell 250 but we have had more than that in pre-orders.” Mr Plummer, who plays centre, added: “I think if it was to just raise money for the club then the lads may not have got involved as much but because of the charity it brings it home a bit so everyone helped out.

“We had more numbers down for the photo shoot than we normally have on a training night. All the lads have shown so much support and the club is proud of them all.”

The theme of the limited edition calendar is work, rest and play, and features both the first and second team in a host of creative poses.

But there could be more to come after the lads promised to bare all in the style of the tongue in cheek hit Brit film The Full Monty, if the calendars are a sell out.

The calendar, priced £10, is available from the club at Dairy Lane, online at www.houghtonrfc.co.uk  or by calling (0191) 584-1460.

All proceeds will go to breast cancer research.