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Saturday, August 26, 2023

Boys and Their Balls - Part 39

 NZ Nude Blacks vs Romanian Vampires

In 2011, the rugby World Cup matches were held in New Zealand.  Each time a match was held in the stadium in the town of Dunedin, New Zealand, the local lads held a naked pre-game match of their own, featuring their team, the Nude Blacks (New Zealand's official team is called the All Blacks).

On Sept. 24, 2011, a World Cup match was held in Dunedin between England and Romania.  The naked pre-game match was between the Nude Blacks and the Romanian Vampires (so named because Transylvania is located in Romania).  Above, some of the Nude Blacks sitting on a coffin belonging to the Vampires.

The Nude Blacks always begin the game with a haka, a traditional Maori chant preceding a battle in which the warriors taunt and insult the other side.  Above is Nude Blacks team captain Devon Latoa doing the haka.

The Romanian Vampires were played by local lads wearing black capes.  This Vampire is apparently doing a haka of his own.

Then the game began.  Here's Devon Latoa pushing through the line of Vampires.

This redhead was one of the Vampires.  His teeth look scary.  I wouldn't want to get bitten by that vampire!

Here's the redheaded Vampire trying to tackle one of the Nude Blacks.

In rugby, when the ball goes out of bounds, it is thrown back in with a play called a line out, where each team is allowed to lift one player up to try to catch the ball.

Here's another line out.

Since the Vampires were wearing black capes, at first I thought this player contending with Devon Latoa was wearing a rainbow flag as a cape.  A gay vampire?  Then I realized it's the flag of Romania: blue, yellow and red.

Here's another Nude Backs player carrying the ball.

But there's a reason there are so many photos of Devon Latoa.  (Above: another one.)  This guy is not only athletic but very photogenic.

10 comments:

Big Dude said...

That musta been a hoot.

UtahJock said...

I can't imagine playing any contact sport not wearing a supporter with hard cup.

Not everything with a rainbow is homosexual oriented.

Thomas said...

I have seen videos of this game over the years, but never these photos. I often wondered who the captain was.

SickoRicko said...

Photogenic indeed!

Gerald said...

I have seen videos of them playing with women and children among the spectators. This would be the truly 'unashamed male', and I definitely approve. That the local government allows this certainly shows a healthy attitude.

Anonymous said...

Who won?

Unashamed Male said...

@Anon - the Nude Blacks beat the Vampires 30 to 25.

Anonymous said...

Some of the videos I've seen have the nude players interacting with the crowd after the game is over. Wonderful to see. Are the games still going on currently?

nakedswimmer said...

I've wrestled nude before.

Treeclimber said...

Interesting to think how the Maori were cannibalistic