Dave Gee: Life from Right Field

There were big celebrations in Dunedin on Saturday night, as the All Blacks beat the Welsh 42-9 in their final rugby test at Carisbrook ground.

Earlier that day, their naked rugby counterparts the Nude Blacks beat rivals the Welsh Leeks at Logan Park ground (an unofficial score had the result as 20-15).

It's currently winter in Dunedin (in the South Island of New Zealand), but it was an unseasonally day for this year's nude rugby game, which attracted its largest ever crowd. Over a thousand spectators (including students, couples, and families) turned out to watch the fun and cheer on the brave players.

Veteran local player Dave Bourke again led the Nude Blacks in the 7th Bottom Bus Nude Rugby International, while visiting newcomer Johnny Morris captained the Welsh Leeks.

Former All Blacks John Timu and Richard Lowe acted as the (fully clothed) referees for the game, which featured all the traditional nude rugby elements, including a nude haka, a clothed streaker, a staged brawl, and a toilet-seat trophy.


A female nude streaker also got in on the action this year, being persuaded to stay in join in the game and take part in a lineout.

She then managed to score a try for the Nude Blacks, rejoining the action later as a naked cop to arrest an ill-disciplined clothed streaker.



* More info & photos here: 7th Annual Nude Rugby International (Part 2)...

The Nude Blacks continued their winning streak in Dunedin this past weekend, and have now won all 7 naked rugby test victories (5 on the beach, 2 on grass).

The popular annual event is an unofficial curtain raiser to All Blacks test matches staged in Dunedin. It's organised by New Zealand local touring companies Bottom Bus and Headfirst Travel, and features a mix of Otago students and visiting players.

* Also see: Nude Rugby Attracts Big Crowd in Dunedin...

For a second year in a row, the All Blacks have lost their only Dunedin rugby test of the year, going down 27-20 to their World Cup nemesis France. (The All Blacks were beaten 30-28 by the Springboks in a crucial tri-nations rugby clash at Carisbrook in 2008).

But the Bottom Bus Nude Blacks managed to retain some pride for New Zealand earlier in the day, beating newcomers Le Coqs 15-5 in the 2009 Nude Rugby International.

The result continues the winning streak for the Nude Blacks, who now claim all 6 naked rugby test victories (5 on sand, 1 on grass).

The event is organised by local touring company Bottom Bus and Headfirst Travel, and has become a popular curtain-raiser to rugby test match games in Dunedin. Veteran Nude Blacks captain Dave Bourke returned for his sixth game, along with a few other players from last year's beach match.

The 6th Annual Bottom Bus Nude Rugby International moved away from its traditional location at St Kilda beach, to a ground at Logan Park opposite the new multi-purpose roofed stadium site, which is being built beside Dunedin's waterfront.

Originally started as a game between local rugby buffs and naked backpackers, the event has had to rely on willing students in recent years, with international backpackers proving wary stripping off in the sometimes chilly south.

The naked players take on the names and positions of team members in the All Blacks and French rugby teams (leading some overseas media to report last year that the actual All Blacks team had stripped off for the beach rugby game before the Springboks test).


Last year's game managed to attract one American female player, but this weekend's game was a decidedly blokey and Dunedin affair.

A few female backpackers did help assist the french bread-waving Le Coqs with their body painting (and French moustaches), and while a few gals were keen before the game to come on as late replacements, the large crowd of spectators at the Logan Park rugby ground seemed to scare them off.







(More info and photos here: 6th Annual Nude Rugby International (Part 2))

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The move to the grass ground at Logan Park (beside University Oval) proved popular, with a large crowd of visiting and local spectators turning out to see the uniquely Dunedin nude game.

American tourists were surprised at the public event, and the lack of a police presence. One told us, "This is hilarious! You wouldn't see this in the States!"

(Unfortunately one 'real' police officer did spoil things right at the end, confiscating naked PC Plod's police helmet, and telling him off for impersonating a police officer. Must have been a quiet day at the office...)

(Also see: Nude Rugby moves off the beach in Dunedin)

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The All Blacks may have lost their crucial Tri-Nations rugby test against the Springboks at Carisbrook (28-30, for anyone who missed it), but their namesakes in Dunedin's 5th Bottom Bus Nude Rugby International came out on top, 17-5.

Billed as the unofficial curtain raiser to the All Blacks v South Africa night test, the nude touch rugby game made a return after a 3 year absence. Carisbrook Stadium last hosted test match rugby in 2005, with South Africa and the Lions.

Despite gloomy weather predictions from the forecasters, Saturday proved to be almost balmy conditions for both rugby games. The naked rugby game was played in "comfortable" conditions of 15 degrees... considerably warmer than some of the previous naked matches played in wintry Dunedin.

Two teams of mostly local rugby buffs stripped off for the game, organised by South Island backpacker touring company Bottom Bus. Player names and numbers painted on their backs helped the nude players identify their respective team-mates.

There was a disappointing lack of representation from Bottom Bus's own tour groups this year, with the weekend's crowd of visiting backpackers preferring to cheer on the hardy local lads, rather than stripping off for the 20 minute game themselves. Veteran player Dave Bourke, a Dunedin cycle courier, celebrated his 5th nude rugby international.

Just one female was brave enough to join the boys for the nude game at St Kilda beach... the American international student coming "off the bench" halfway through the game, after an injury forced a leading player off.

The game ended with a quick dip in the surf as the players chased a wayward rugby ball, and an apparent scoreline of 17-5 to the "Nude Blacks" (although noone's quite sure...)