This project began as an exploration of musculature, sexuality and gender within contact women’s sports. In order to fully access and comprehend the culture to be documented, I joined the Redstorm rugby team. The emersion was total; from training and socials, to playing every game. The extreme physicality and intensity of the game is addicting, and explains the willingness of players to dedicate themselves to a sport that indisputably destroys one’s body. The athletes bear the physical marks of the sport in more than just their perpetual bruises, black eyes, and scars. The training and conditioning builds heavy musculatures, which stand out in stark contrast to the hegemonic perceptions of female body types.

              What is perhaps most fascinating about women’s rugby culture, is the lack of compensation for these stereotypically assumed masculine traits and behaviors. In other women’s sports there is often still an underlying sense of unease and homophobia surrounding visible strength and power in women. However, within rugby culture, the varying sexual orientations and gender deviances in many of the players are not only accepted but, even expected.

“Outside-Center”