Rugby club's topless gig

The topless fundraising event, MCed by James McOnie, was 'tastefully done' said former All Black Murray Mexted. Photo / Supplied

One of the country's most famous rugby clubs was under fire last night for hiring topless models to raffle their underwear at a fundraising event.

The stunt led to calls for the New Zealand Rugby Union to confront sexist attitudes within the game after a string of recent scandals.

The Auckland University Rugby Football Club contracted semi-naked women to parade around at its annual pretest luncheon on Thursday. Former All Black captain Murray Mexted, who delivered the keynote address, described the women who stripped to raise money as "PR girls for rugby".

The event was hosted by TV personality James McOnie, and former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters also spoke.

Mexted said the women were topless for most of the event, but their breasts were body-painted in the colours of the club. "It was tastefully done," he added.

Mexted strongly defended using topless women to raise money. "It's light-hearted entertainment, there's no downside," he said.

"It was a magnificent affair and 826 people attended. It was put on by a rugby club for rugby people, raising money for rugby."

However, Auckland Sexual Abuse Helpline clinical manager Kathryn McPhillips said the event raised concerns.

"The dangerous thing is it reinforces all those attitudes about rugby, alcohol and women and that they can have young women's bodies for pleasure because of who they are," she said.

"We really need to be thinking about these things and where it leads and what kind of messages it gives."

McPhillips said she expected her helpline to be overwhelmed during the Rugby World Cup next year.

Sexual abuse victims' advocate Louise Nicholas called on rugby administrators to take action before the World Cup.

"I'm in favour of rugby, and I'm in favour of fundraising. But do they really need to get women to strip?" she asked.

"We are a rugby nation, and the Rugby Union needs to step up. This sort of thing goes on in strip clubs, not Eden Park."

The Herald on Sunday was approached by a woman who attended the event and was concerned about use of naked women to raise money.

When contacted at 4.30pm yesterday the NZRU said it did not have enough time to respond before deadline as it was tied up with last night's test match against South Africa.

The university rugby club has produced many of New Zealand's finest rugby players, including former All Black captains Sean Fitzpatrick and David Kirk. Club newsletters from previous years various describe the luncheon as "world infamous" and a place where participants can "drink as heavily as possible".

The club's website said during last years' luncheon All Black Graham Henry delivered a speech and some stripping also took place.

Ian McKenzie, a life member of the club, who has organised the luncheon since 1994, did not want to say where he hired the women at the function. "We'd rather you didn't say anything about that," he said.

Club president Richard Cawson did not respond to messages left by the Herald on Sunday.

Women's Affairs Minister Pansy Wong was overseas yesterday, but was taken aback by descriptions of the event.

"The first impression I have is surprise, shock and disappointment," she said.