EvanL
05-20-2004, 05:10 PM
JULIE SCOTT
TORONTO (CP) - When Kristy Heemskerk first saw herself in the new Canadian women's rugby team calendar, she was a little taken aback.
Canadian Press Photo
"I look at it now and say 'Wow, I'm naked, there's my bum and the rest of me,"' the centre/fullback said as she stood a few feet away from a poster-size version of her picture that appears in the squad's latest fundraising effort.
Rugby Canada unveiled the 20-month calendar during a news conference Thursday. The financially strapped women's squad is hoping to raise around $80,000 from sales of the calendar, which features 21 members of the program, most wearing little or nothing save for a strategically placed ball, boot, or in one case, a cowboy hat.
"I think they (the pictures) are very tasteful," said Heemskerk, a full-time student from Waterloo, Ont. "They show our athleticism. We work really hard to get that kind of body so I think it's nice to show that."
It's not an original idea. In 2001, the Canadian women's cross-country ski made headlines with their Nordic ****s calendar. The Australian women's soccer team created controversy in 1999 by posing naked for a calendar. And there have been others.
But Colette McAuley thought it just might be the key to getting her team some recognition and, more importantly, some much-needed cash. They have tried to raise money other ways, but with most of the players holding down full-time jobs, finding time to run raffles is tough.
Not to mention the calendar is also a way to dispel some of the stereotypes about the women who play rugby, said McAuley.
"I think it makes people aware," she said. "It's a sport that encompasses all types of athletes and I think dispelling the myth that you have to play that strong, old rugby style (is important), this is a great way to do it."
The Canadian women, who are ranked fourth in the world, have a busy few weeks ahead as they prepare for the Churchill Cup in June in Calgary and Edmonton. The tournament also includes the top-ranked New Zealand Black Ferns, No. 2 England and the U.S.
When McAuley, a five-year veteran of the national team, came up with the idea, she initially envisioned a swimsuit calendar but the photographer she consulted said making swimsuit photos look professional without a lot of airbrushing would be tough.
"He said it's easier and you look more attractive if there's less clothing," said McAuley, a native of Forest, Ont., who works as a chemist at the University of Guelph.
Heemskerk's photo is one of the more revealing. It's a profile shot in which she's kneeling, behind exposed with one hand covering her breast. A KooGa rugby ball is painted on her thigh. McAuley is also featured in a **** profile with a pair of cleats slung around her neck and a ball in her hands.
Some women posed with clothing. Lock Araba Chintoh is pictured wearing a tank top while Raquel Eldridge showed off her washboard stomach in a crop top and shorts. All the pictures are in black and white.
They had hoped to include small action shots with the portraits but McAuley found there just wasn't enough pictures to chose from.
The 31-year-old McAuley, who's a player representative on the Rugby Canada board, initially approached 45 members of the senior program about doing the calendar with 21 eventually agreeing to be photographed. The calendars are available for $20 at www.rugbycanada.ca and will be sold during various events over the next few months. There production costs for the 5,000 copies were between $16,000 and $18,000.
When McAuley pitched the idea to Rugby Canada, chief operating officer Graham Brown admits he had reservations.
"My concern was that if you're going to do it, do it right," said Brown.
Once he saw how committed to the idea McAuley was, he was behind her.
"She had a business plan. This wasn't an idea that got halfway," said Brown. "We may not have a lot of money but that doesn't prevent us from doing things right."
Brown said the senior women's annual budget is about $500,000. Unlike members of the men's senior program however, the Canadian women are not eligible to receive a monthly stipend from Sport Canada. McAuley says she and her teammates often have to pay out of pocket to attend tournaments and as a member of the board, she feels responsible for making playing for your country less of a burden.
"It's a bit of a drain financially," she said. "You should be able to be rewarded for making the team instead of saying 'OK, now it's going to cost you $1,000.'
"It's all about the players."
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/cpress/20040520/capt.s052061a.jpg
Colette McAuley, a wing for the Senior Women's National Team Player, thought it just might be the key to getting her team some recognition and, more importantly, some much-needed cash. (CP /handout/ Ross Davidson)
TORONTO (CP) - When Kristy Heemskerk first saw herself in the new Canadian women's rugby team calendar, she was a little taken aback.
Canadian Press Photo
"I look at it now and say 'Wow, I'm naked, there's my bum and the rest of me,"' the centre/fullback said as she stood a few feet away from a poster-size version of her picture that appears in the squad's latest fundraising effort.
Rugby Canada unveiled the 20-month calendar during a news conference Thursday. The financially strapped women's squad is hoping to raise around $80,000 from sales of the calendar, which features 21 members of the program, most wearing little or nothing save for a strategically placed ball, boot, or in one case, a cowboy hat.
"I think they (the pictures) are very tasteful," said Heemskerk, a full-time student from Waterloo, Ont. "They show our athleticism. We work really hard to get that kind of body so I think it's nice to show that."
It's not an original idea. In 2001, the Canadian women's cross-country ski made headlines with their Nordic ****s calendar. The Australian women's soccer team created controversy in 1999 by posing naked for a calendar. And there have been others.
But Colette McAuley thought it just might be the key to getting her team some recognition and, more importantly, some much-needed cash. They have tried to raise money other ways, but with most of the players holding down full-time jobs, finding time to run raffles is tough.
Not to mention the calendar is also a way to dispel some of the stereotypes about the women who play rugby, said McAuley.
"I think it makes people aware," she said. "It's a sport that encompasses all types of athletes and I think dispelling the myth that you have to play that strong, old rugby style (is important), this is a great way to do it."
The Canadian women, who are ranked fourth in the world, have a busy few weeks ahead as they prepare for the Churchill Cup in June in Calgary and Edmonton. The tournament also includes the top-ranked New Zealand Black Ferns, No. 2 England and the U.S.
When McAuley, a five-year veteran of the national team, came up with the idea, she initially envisioned a swimsuit calendar but the photographer she consulted said making swimsuit photos look professional without a lot of airbrushing would be tough.
"He said it's easier and you look more attractive if there's less clothing," said McAuley, a native of Forest, Ont., who works as a chemist at the University of Guelph.
Heemskerk's photo is one of the more revealing. It's a profile shot in which she's kneeling, behind exposed with one hand covering her breast. A KooGa rugby ball is painted on her thigh. McAuley is also featured in a **** profile with a pair of cleats slung around her neck and a ball in her hands.
Some women posed with clothing. Lock Araba Chintoh is pictured wearing a tank top while Raquel Eldridge showed off her washboard stomach in a crop top and shorts. All the pictures are in black and white.
They had hoped to include small action shots with the portraits but McAuley found there just wasn't enough pictures to chose from.
The 31-year-old McAuley, who's a player representative on the Rugby Canada board, initially approached 45 members of the senior program about doing the calendar with 21 eventually agreeing to be photographed. The calendars are available for $20 at www.rugbycanada.ca and will be sold during various events over the next few months. There production costs for the 5,000 copies were between $16,000 and $18,000.
When McAuley pitched the idea to Rugby Canada, chief operating officer Graham Brown admits he had reservations.
"My concern was that if you're going to do it, do it right," said Brown.
Once he saw how committed to the idea McAuley was, he was behind her.
"She had a business plan. This wasn't an idea that got halfway," said Brown. "We may not have a lot of money but that doesn't prevent us from doing things right."
Brown said the senior women's annual budget is about $500,000. Unlike members of the men's senior program however, the Canadian women are not eligible to receive a monthly stipend from Sport Canada. McAuley says she and her teammates often have to pay out of pocket to attend tournaments and as a member of the board, she feels responsible for making playing for your country less of a burden.
"It's a bit of a drain financially," she said. "You should be able to be rewarded for making the team instead of saying 'OK, now it's going to cost you $1,000.'
"It's all about the players."
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/cpress/20040520/capt.s052061a.jpg
Colette McAuley, a wing for the Senior Women's National Team Player, thought it just might be the key to getting her team some recognition and, more importantly, some much-needed cash. (CP /handout/ Ross Davidson)