Locker Room Nudes: The French National Rugby Team

by François Rousseau, Susanna Cucco (Contributor)

This remarkable collection of candid nude photos of France’s national rugby team goes beneath the uniform to reveal what real jocks look like underneath it all. Each image taken by leading French photographer François Rousseau depicts the rugby player―alone or with teammates―undressing, lounging on the bench, showering. Locker Room Men is at once a celebration of athletes and the beauty of the male form as well as the fulfillment of the fantasy of going behind the scenes in a winning team’s locker room.
Sure to appeal to both gay men and straight women, these photos are unusual because the men are not models. They don’t work out just to look good―and look good they do―their bodies are sculpted by winning victories on the field. They aren’t made up, shaved, or prettified in any way. These are some of the world’s best rugby players―brawny, tough, competitive.
Since 1999, the French national rugby team has posed nude or semi-nude for an annual calendar. The purpose behind the calendar was to get wider “exposure” for rugby and the team. In 2004, François Rousseau was selected as photographer, and he successfully brought out the sensual beauty and sexiness inherent in the rugby players’ rough and tumble exterior. The calendar became a cult hit, and thus the book was born so that even more of these unparalleled images could be savored.
Whether or not rugby will become more popular in this country remains to be seen, but this book will certainly raise the game’s profile…

Genres: Photography

152 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Rousseau began his photography career in 1995, after 10 years of painting. He alternates between commercial, fashion photography and art photography.

In 2003 he was commissioned to photograph the famous calendar 'Les Dieux du Stade 2004', a nude calendar of the French elite rugby team 'Stade Français CASG', which has sold over 160,000 copies.

Reviews

[H]

It's official: I'm breaking up with François Rousseau.

I mean, really. It takes a special talent to render naked rugby players completely uninteresting. What a stark (!) contrast to Tony Duran's Dieux du Stade, which also displays the French National rugby team in all their glistening glory. Except with Duran, the photos are arresting, erotic, and timeless. Rousseau's are just plain boring.

Three Two strikes (Wet Men, Locker Room Nudes: The French National Rugby Team), you're out. Au revoir, François Rousseau. I can't say it was good for me.

[Kimberly]

What's to learn? Beautiful photography of beautiful men is always pleasing to the eye! If you can't find the calendar, this is well worth the investment until the season starts again. :)

Eye candy tendencies aside, this book is full of beautiful photos which are an inspiration for aspiring photographers and art lovers alike.

[Antonio Capurro]

Adoro el arte homoerótico y especialmente la fotografía. Este libro de Francois Rousseau está lleno de una carga sexual que salta a los ojos. Un derroche visual el que nos ofrecen todos esos jugadores de rugby posando en íntimos momentos. Genial!!!

[Raquel]

Best coffee Table book EVER!!

[Clover]

PICTURE BOOKS CAN ALSO BE FOR ADULTS!!!!!