Scott Drawer, head of research at UK Sport, told the newspaper: “Rugby is a naturally combative sport and putting yourself in an aggressive frame of mind is quite important to how you perform.”

Samples of saliva from the players revealed significant increases in testosterone levels after watching the erotic, humorous, aggressive and training videos compared to when they watched the sad or control clips.

Given how “intimate” these fellas get in scrums, this study could very well lead to some uncomfortable moments in the pile.

“No sir, that’s not my cauliflower ear, but I am happy to see you”.

Thx to Guyism reader @MenorahRose for the tip

Photo credit: Street FSNs

With The Upgrade, the Guyism Style team helps you look good without looking like a victim of fashion.

Everyday, dozens of guys try to rock that “blazer with jeans” relaxed-yet-grown-up look and fail miserably. You have certainly seen it: the washed bootleg denim, the untucked dress shirt, and the blazer with shoulders so padded you could sit a drink on them. The first two elements are easy fixes: go with a straight let jean and tuck in that shirt. The blazer, however, seems to be the hardest thing to fix for most guys. Luckily, the solution is quite simple: soft shouldered blazers. A soft shoulder or unstructured blazer, however, has little to no padding and follows the natural curve of your shoulder. The result is softer, more relaxed lines. Soft shouldered blazers have very little padding in the shoulder and upper chest area, and unstructured blazers will not padding or structure whatsoever. Soft shouldered blazers can be a touch more suitable for traditional offices, while unstructured blazers are the perfect for business casual or if you want to try the t-shirt with a blazer look. These jackets should fit close to the body, following your silhouette. The great part about unstructured and soft shouldered blazers is that they look great on everyone. They come in a range of styles and price points, from affordable brands like H&M and Gap to luxury brands like Brunello Cucinelli and Boglioli. Here are some of our picks.

Frome left to right: Land’s End Canvas, LL Bean Signature, Rugby, Richard James, Belvest

Friday means pay day, so check out some sales going on currently that will help you quench that fire burning a hole in your wallet.

Rugby.com-20% off men’s rugby shirts

Landsend.com-25% off  everything including sale and clearance (code: LANDSEND, pin: 1140, excludes Land’s End Canvas items)

Tommy.com-30% off orders of $200 (code: SPEND200) or more and 20% off orders from $100-$199 (code: SPEND100). Ends today!

Gap.com-25% off khakis, polos, shirts, shorts, and more (online only)!

Polo.com-Spring sale event, up to 40% off items across the RL family of brands

CK.com-An extra 30% off everything including suits

Last week I posted on how to make your polo shirt a little more interesting by wearing some colored chinos with them. This week I figured I might as well throw you guys in the direction of some good colored chinos, all well under $100. These chinos come in a range of sizes and fits so whether you have a 6 pack or that 6-pack

From left to right: L.L. Bean Signature, Land’s End Canvas, Rugby, Dockers, J. Crew

Rugby’s Men’s editor picks the top 10 items under $100 for you to grab something on the cheap to prep for the warmer weather ahead.

Image from A Continuous Lean

GQ has the info on a trend that I noticed earlier this year coming down the pike. That would be the retro backpack. Who still has their old JanSport lying around?

As always Gilt MANual is on that educating tip. This week, get the info on henleys.

Throughout the years famous actors have been known for their possessions. The coolest one? A motorcycle, obviously. Art of Manliness breaks down some of the best men and their motorcycles over the last half century.

I’ve been a strong proponent of polos for this Spring/Summer. Men of Habit shows you how to pull them off once more.

Glenn O’Brien gets interviewed over at A Continuous Lean on how to be a man. Pay attention gentlemen. Please.

Dapper Demeanor hits the Spring in stride with a post on unstructured cotton blazers. Definitely a must-have outerwear piece for those chilly Spring nights. Your girl will thank you when you put it over her shoulders.

At the Heineken Cup this past weekend, Horacio Agulla of Leicester goes in for the try amongst a throng of Leinster defenders. Somebody decides to play grab ass with him, whiffs and pulls down his shorts instead. And well, the results are as expected.

Thankfully, the announcers don’t ignore a bare man’s ass on television and get a good laugh out of it themselves. Those “cheeky” British fellas.

Rugby introduced their brand new Haberdashery Shop. It’ll have everything from cuff links to ties and of course your suits and shirting. Check it out for some great lightweight suiting options this Spring/Summer.

Gilt MANual breaks down how to wear brown chinos. I always forget that such a chino can be such an easy to put a little spice into an outfit. Don’t knock the brown.

I’m a big fan of layering in the colder months. I rather take things off when I’m warm than not have enough on to begin with. The Style Blogger goes through some of his favorite ways to layer. Expertly done.

Need some outerwear options?? FREE/MAN breaks down some of their favorite pieces from Penfield’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection.

Canadian custom tie company Dolbeau is having a great sale on their custom neckwear. Grab ‘em while they’re hot!

There’s always talk about men’s grooming and shaving tips. Never do lifestyle sites talk about dental hygiene. Until now. Men of Habit break down how to keep your teeth so fresh and so clean (clean) in impressive detail.

Have denim that need to be repaired? GQ has the perfect solution for your favorite pair of jeans.

Smartphone case by Landmarks & Lions

The LA Times has a nice interview with Glenn O’Brien (most of you know him as GQ’s “The Style Guy”) on his upcoming book, How to Be a Man: A Guide to Style and Behavior for the Modern Gentleman. The guy certainly has a pedigree and the short article gives insight into some of his sartorial opinions.

As you know, I am a big fan of Filson. I think they make some great home-grown goods. Selectism has the drop on the new Filson Red Label line, which is apparently going to be difficult to obtain. So if you know anyone, hit your boy up.

Our friend at Unabashedly Prep pares things down with his latest post. Using Rugby Ralph Lauren attire, he breaks down how a man can break up a suit and still the wear the pieces accordingly.

As the weather warms up, our available pockets start to diminish (no more coats = substantially less storage). Valet has a great look on a new men’s leather goods accessories line, Landmarks & Lions. Affordable and stylish, these leather iPhone cases/wallets are the ultimate in stylish utility.

Michael Williams over at A Continuous Lean has an all black/silver look for those who are fans of the monochromatic. He attributes it to being a New York thing or maybe because LCD Soundsystem has closed up shop. Either way, what he put together looks great and there’s some nice inspiration when you have to go all black everything.

What do I always tell you guys? It’s all about the details, right? It’s the little things that matter. The Effortless Gent breaks down how you can set yourself apart from the rest. And don’t worry. I have a post lined up for this, too.

Couldn’t make it to SXSW this year? No worries, neither could I. Luckily for us, Rugby has put together some of the best music that’s being showcased this week.

GQ answers a question about the proper way to wear a pocketsquare. Have no fear, I’ll be going further in depth on pocket squares and ties, etc.  in the next couple weeks .

Gilt MANual gives a reader some tips on how to casually roll the sleeves up on your dress shirts/button-downs. A little imperfection can go a long way.

Not sure how many closet poets we have amongst us, but if you’re even remotely talented in the art of words, why not give it a shot? The contest is open on Rugby’s Facebook page through May 4th, both for voting and submissions. The winner will be chosen around mid-May followed by an in-store event hosted by the next Great Poet. The winner will receive $1,000 in Rugby clothing. Four runner-ups will receive $500 in Rugby gift cards (sweetness). The poems must be about romance, however you interpret that is up to you.

As I said above, there are 3 videos that have been created in support of the contest. They feature poems by Joshua Bennett, Allen Ginsberg, and Alex Ustach. My favorite is the one by Joshua Bennett (check it out above), an award-winning spoken word poet from New York City. He’s performed at the White House for President Obama and The First Lady. He received a standing ovation from the entire room for his performance. Check out that performance below, as well as the other videos from Rugby.

Click the image for LL Bean's Winter Sale

It’s no secret that the end of the winter sales are a great opportunity to capitalize on massively discounted products. There’s always things you want to buy but couldn’t for one reason or another. L.L. Bean has up to 50% off on their Winter offerings and Rugby has an additional 30% off on already discounted products. Let me just say that there are some straight up steals on both sites. The only problem some of you average/medium dudes may run into is sizing availabilities. With end of season sales, a lot of the availabilities are of the extra small or large/extra large variety. But it never hurts to take a look right? Right. So, check out some of my favorite pieces from Rugby and L.L. Bean and jump on those discounts. It’ll be Fall again before you know it and you’ll be fully stocked to face the elements.

Click the image for Rugby's Winter Sale

So, in case you missed it A Headlong Dive got a bunch of style bloggers together (including yours truly) to express their love for Dockers chinos. It’s a great post with a handful of awesome testimonials.

Time Out – NY picked it’s most stylish New Yorkers, but it just felt a bit off. Stylecaster takes a stab at it, naming the 50 most stylish New Yorkers in the city. They’re pretty much spot on and the shots are great.

Prepidemic shines their spotlight on Oak Street Bootmakers, a footwear company based in the Windy City. I’ve personally met George and he’s a stand-up guy, whose passion for shoes is second only to their quality. I plan on grabbing a pair of those loafers for this summer.

Nautical stripes are a timeless pattern that is always worth incorporating into your wardrobe. Labeling it as the palette cleanser for the transition from Winter to Spring, Rugby gives good reason to don the striped crewneck.

WSJ.com maps out fashion’s heavy hitter influences; Gilt Man breaks down the must-have pieces for F/W 2011 (already); Rugby assures you Fair Isle sweaters aren’t just a Winter thing; Die, Workwear! showcases an awesome documentary on British street style.

The Wall Street Journal has had some really interesting fashion/style coverage this past week. For all your visual learners, check out their fashion influence graphic, detailing how the entire industry is inter-related.

Gilt MAN breaks down the must-haves for Fall 2011 after 2 weeks of runway shows and presentations. My favorites? The varsity jacket, marled wool sweater, orange anything, and faded aqua chinos.

For all your skiing types out there, you know that the Fair Isle pattern is almost exclusively worn on the mountains/during the F/W. Well, over at Rugby Ralph Lauren’s blog, they’re saying otherwise. Don’t be afraid to throw a little Fair Isle into your Spring/Summer wardrobe.

Die, Workwear! has been exploding in popularity on Tumblr in large part due to this extensive knowledge of menswear. Yesterday, he highlighted a documentary, British Style Genius, specifically for their street style installment. Check out part 1 below.

For the second date, I’ve chosen the ever popular dinner and a movie. For this kind of evening, versatility is key. You can’t look so nice that you’re overdressed for the movie, but  you can’t look so casual that you’re underdressed for dinner. Check it out.

1. Dockers Slim Soft Khaki (D1) – $52, on sale for $30 online

I personally own three pairs of these pants and I must say the quality is fantastic considering the price. I’m a bit stocky by nature, so I tend to have to buy slim-ish pants (so my thighs/ass fit) and then tailor them to get my preferred leg opening. I taper my pants right from right above the knee to about a 7.5″ – 7.75″ leg opening. They drape quite nicely and I haven’t had any issues yet.

2. Rugby Striped University Oxford – $79, on sale for $59.99

I really enjoy the cut of Rugby oxford shirts. I own a few and they’re some of my favorites. They won’t break the bank and the quality is on par. Rugby has some of the best sales on the interwebs, so be patient with them. Some of their pieces may seem pricey at times, but they almost always go on sale at the end of the season. Great time to stock up on essentials.

3. L.L. Bean Signature Lambswool Sweater – $59, on sale for $40.12

I am an adamant proponent of both the quality and products of L.L. Bean’s Signature line. I think they’ve done a great job creating a clothing that fits slightly better and is more modern in its patterns and fabrics. Their Spring collection definitely has some winners in it.

4. Clarks Originals Desert Boot – $100 (depends on retailer)

These shoes are legendary casual footwear. Popularized by British Forces in WWII, these boots sit on a wonderfully comfortable crepe sole. They’re versatile as hell too, you can wear them with just about anything.

5. Schott Slim Fitting Wool Peacoat – $250

I was *this close* to grabbing this for the winter, but instead opted for the L.L. Bean blackwatch tartan plaid duffle coat. I’ve met the Schott team personally and they’re super knowledgeable and excited about their brand. Their new Perfecto line is going to be a force to reckon with. The coat is made of 24 oz melton wool, so you know it’s going to be heavy enough to get you through those tough winters (lookin’ at you East Coast). The double breasted styling is classic and the chest pockets are choice when it’s just a tad too cold out.

Joel Monaghan, an Australian rugby player, has some explaining to do after pictures of him and a dog committing a lewd sexual act surfaced on Twitter.

We’ll spare you the expense of having to actually look at the photo, however, the sexual act itself can most aptly be described with a few quotes from the movie Road Trip.

Kyle: It’s not cheating if you spread peanut butter on your balls and let your dog lick it off.
Kyle: Because it’s your dog.
Rubin: Jesus Christ!
Kyle: You know, because it’s YOUR dog, get it?
Rubin: Yeah, we’ve got it.

If you didn’t catch it from the clip, the CEO of the Raiders (the team Monagan plays on) had this to say.

“It’s a great example of why you shouldn’t be out drinking and having those big drinking sessions”.

Listen, I’ve had plenty of drinks in my life, blacked out more than a handful of times and probably even banged a few fatties I shouldn’t have. But getting drunk and making bad decisions does not equal letting a dog lick your dong.

Gross. This ends our bestiality coverage for the day.

Joel Monaghan, Australian Rugby Star Has Photo Of Sex Act With Dog Leaked [Ted Williams Head]

We’re certainly getting a lesson in hygiene today. Earlier we told you about some shower issues University of Tennesse players had. And now, well, let’s just say these guys are probably in need of several showers. Two Australian rugby players are accused of defecating all over their hotel room.

It is understood Holiday Inn management have taken photos of the feces and subsequently contacted the Roosters.

“A little bit feral they were,” said Sue, a cleaner who wished to remain anonymous. “I don’t really know a huge amount about it.

“All I know is the cleaner entered the room, they had defecated on the floor next to the toilet in one of the rooms and defecated on the white tables that are in the rooms. And they did it in a couple of rooms.”

“She [another cleaner] said it was disgusting, absolutely disgusting. She doesn’t get paid enough to do that.

“These are players that children respect and they are held in high regard by the community.”

In their defense, one of them seemed to at least make an attempt to hit the toilet with his feces. That’s commendable. And who’s to say that they just didn’t go to town on some buffet and their colons got the best of them. Let the first man who hasn’t had explosive diarrhea cast the first stone.

New disgrace as Rooster rookies defecate in hotel [AU News]

Suck on that f**gots. Probs the best game I’ve ever seen!! Well done boys

She deleted the tweet sometime later but not after drawing the ire of openly gay Australian rugby league player, Ian Roberts.

She is an idiot and anyone who continues to endorse her as an athlete is an idiot as well. And I say that with a very sad tone in my voice. What a fool.

Apparently the Jaguar company felt the same way as Roberts and dropped her as a sponsor today. Davenport Underwear however, has decided to keep her on. So I guess in the end for Rice, there is a silver “elastic” lining to his whole mess.

Aussie swimmer Rice ripped for tweet [Fox Sports]

Women on the other hand, well, they tend to be a bit more catlike in their confrontations. Hair pulls and the occasional boob grab tend to replace punches and kicks. And now after seeing this picture from last week’s World Cup game between Canada and Scotland, we can safely add depantsing to the list.

Part of me really wants to believe that this unfortunate wardrobe malfunction was just part of the game. But another part of me believes that maybe women’s rugby is going down the same path as the Lingerie Football League. And as somebody that wholeheartedly believes in capitalism, I say bring on the competition.

on 205th recommends…