Steven Klein Does Dieux Du Stade

We usually follow developments in the international sports scene with the same level of enthusiasm we reserve for pork belly futures or the latest Sandra Bullock vehicle, but we'll be keeping a close eye on the Rugby World Cup which begins this coming weekend in France ... if only because it coincides with the release of the latest edition of the Dieux Du Stade calendar, in which superstar fashion editorial photographer Steven Klein has captured several of the same players you'll see running around getting all dirty in the scrum getting all naked in the locker room instead. We're sure you'll be seeing the usual assortment of outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot in addition to the complete layout before too long, but in the meantime French daily Le Parisien was kind enough to give us all a sneak peek of what's in store in this morning's edition. If only USA Today provided such eye-opening and up-to-the-minute cultural reporting every day, we might actually pay attention to that too.

· "Dieux du Stade 2008: first exclusive photos from Le Parisien" (french-rugby-team.com; see also "Dieux du Stade 2008: a calendar shot by Steven Klein")

Previously: Breaking: British Rugby Players Really Are As Hot As You Think They Are, (More) Naked Rugby Players (Again), Dieux Du Stade 2007