STANDING around in their underwear, it is probably fair to say this was not what had first drawn the ladies of Pocklington RUFC to rugby union.

But that is the price of fame and the girls are about to have their 15 minutes - as the stars of a new Channel 4 television series which goes on air later this month.

The ladies, who have not played a competitive match since meeting Cambridge University at the start of the December, have been busy in other ways after being approached to take part in the Reduce Your Rears' experiment for upcoming series Supersize versus Superskinny.

The magazine show, fronted by nutritional expert and TV presenter Gillian McKeith, focuses on weight, diet, food and body image. And McKeith is on a quest to reduce the size of Britain's backsides.

Along with eight other groups of women drawn from across the country, the Pocklington ladies were handed a gadget to trial for four weeks. The TENS machine is more commonly used to treat chronic pain issues but the Pock guinea pigs, representing the York area, had to use them every day - for half an hour - on their rears.

The show, which starts on Tuesday and runs for eight weeks, saw the ladies involved in outdoor and studio filming in both York and London. Those trips down south meant an early start for the team with them having to catch a train at 6am to make the London sessions.

They were approached in November to take part in the programme, which is made by Endemol - the production company behind a string of hit shows including Big Brother and Deal or No Deal.

Tracy Bulmer, Pocklington RUFC ladies rugby manager, said the ladies had a good time making the programme, despite the early starts in the capital.

"Everyone enjoyed themselves even though it meant two long Saturdays travelling to London, another day filming in York, and quite a lot of standing around in our underwear," she said.

"It was also quite intimidating to be in front of the TV cameras - although the wine we were given beforehand helped to calm our nerves. Taking part in the programme has also proved to be a great teambuilding activity and it will be interesting to see how the finished product turns out."

The Pock ladies experienced mixed results with the gadget, with some finding it effective and others seeing it as a waste of time. Either way they all agreed that the machine didn't beat actual exercise and they all preferred coming to rugby training regularly.

The team is already out on the training pitch preparing for the rest of the campaign. Anyone who wants to join them can drop in at training, which takes place at Percy Road, every Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm to 8pm.

For more details, contact Bulmer on 07739 515513.