SCRUY Thornton rugby players are hoping to raise funds for their club with a cheeky new calendar.

The first 15 at Thornton Cleveleys Rugby Club bare almost all in a tasteful nude calendar which they hope will brighten up people's New Year, and help finance a rugby trip to Canada next May.

"We are raising money in order to buy a new kit and help some of our student members get across there," said 28-year-old Mr September, Karl Pollard of Meadow Park, Staining.

"We are completely naked in the photographs but there's only about five where you can tell we are nude. It's all in good fun."

The club has not set a sales target for the all-male calendar at the moment, but the players are standing by for another print run should the quirky pics prove popular, Karl said.

The 2003 calendar was the idea of team captain Russell Crompton who was impressed by a similar fund-raising initiative at the end of last year by the Fylde's Lytham Ladies hockey team.

Russell enlisted the help of fellow club member and student photographer David Kerr who pictured team-mates in striking black and white images -- including a moody shower shot and a cheeky trio with their backs to the camera.

According to Karl all the players were game for a laugh. "I don't think anybody minded, we're all used to showering as a team."

And what do the players' wives make of it all? "All the ladies have been really supportive," Karl said. "Jo, my wife, loves it. She's well behind anything to do with rugby!"

Calendars costing £5 each are available from Thornton Cleveleys Rugby Club, Fleetwood Road, Thornton, telephone 854104.