Bashful is not a word you'd normally associate with rugby players and if you'd been down at the Gnoll you'd have understood why.

As usual, the Neath players feature in the club's 2001 calendar, but this year ... they won't need a kit sponsor!

The team are used to being in a state of undress in the dressing room but on Thursday they were on the field with very little on.

They were there for a photo-shoot.

The photographs will be used in next year's calendar and the money raised will go towards the Players' Fund.

No shyness

There was no hint of shyness as the Welsh All Blacks ran onto the Knoll.

"There were a few giggles, a bit of a laugh and by the end the boys were feeling a bit liberated," according to skipper Gareth Llewelyn.

Shane Williams is looking forward to see the outcome. "Personally I don't look the best half naked. I'm not looking forward to my family seeing them."

And it looks like the calendars will be selling like hot cakes in the Neath area.