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Rugby World Cup: Forget the Ball and Watch the Men

Posted Sep 7, 07 1:39 PM CDT in Arts & Living,  Sports 

(Newser) – France has been gripped by rugbymania as fans descend for the 2007 World Cup, which begins today. Bakeries are offering pigskin-shaped loaves, and Galeries Lafayette offers fan specials as the violent sport becomes suddenly chic. But for the Telegraph's Janine di Giovanni, one of the most violent sports offers only one real delight: the men.

As men abandon their wives for rugby, she writes, the women fall for players instead. The French national team, which has posed naked for its "Gods of the Stadium" calendar, offers multiple options: tattooed Frederic Michalak, face of a condom brand, or her favorite, Sebastian Chabal, who comes complete with an army of female fans who call him "The Caveman."

Source Daily Telegraph (UK)

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Italy's Mauro Bergamasco (C) is tackled by France's Sebastian Cabal, nicknamed "The Caveman", in this file photo.   (Getty Images)
Welsh flyhalf James Hook makes a break as Australia's Nathan Sharpe attempts the tackle during their rugby union test match in Sydney, Saturday, May 26, 2007. Australia defeated Wales 29-23. (AP Photo/Mark...   (Associated Press)
South African rugby team player Bryan Habana, left, signs autographs after a training session in Noisy le Grand, east of Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. South Africa are preparing for their upcoming...   (Associated Press)
A giant inflatable rugby ball hangs from the Eiffel tower in Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. Paris will light up from Thursday, Sept. 6 the Eiffel Tower to look like goal posts as part of six weeks of...   (Associated Press)
A giant inflatable rugby ball hangs from the Eiffel tower in Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. Paris will light up from Thursday, Sept. 6 the Eiffel Tower to look like goal posts as part of six weeks of...   (Associated Press)
South African rugby team flankerJuan Smith, right, pushes among the scrum during a training session in Noisy le Grand, east of Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. South Africa are preparing for their upcoming...   (Associated Press)
France's rugby prop Pieter de Villiers appears in the middle of a scrum during a training session in Marcoussis south of Paris, Thursday Aug. 23, 2007, ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France...   (Associated Press)
South African rugby team player Schalk Burger, left, grabs the ball as teammate CJ Van Der Linde, right, holds him during a training session in Noisy le Grand, east of Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007....   (Associated Press)
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