ROG: The Ronan O'Gara Documentary

Rugby Football Match

October 1901 •English

Leicester Tigers face Plymouth in this early filmed rugby match, which took place 26 October 1901, at Leicester's Welford Road home. As is customary in early sporting films, only a small proportion of the match is captured, due to the technical limitations of the time. The match ended in a 3-3 draw.

All for One

April 2002 •French

In a closed locker room, rugby players perform the last pre-match rituals. Warming up their souls and bodies, all tense in anticipation of the fight.

Dieux du Stade - Making of Calendar 2001

July 2004 •English

Originally created in support of charity, the popularity of the calendars has been credited for the increased fame of the Stade Français team, as well as rugby in general, in France. The calendars are part of a marketing strategy crafted by Max Guazzini, President of the rugby club. A savvy marketer who built the NRJ Radio group, he has successfully used the calendars to attract a new audience to rugby matches (live and on TV), such as women.

Premières danses

August 2023 •French

During the 2013-2014 season, the U19 team of union rugby club of Auch are competing in the Crabos French championship. Teenager Antoine Dupont and his best friend Anthony Jelonch shared victories and defeats during this last season in their hometown, but also unavoidable village parties.

Cut

August 1976 •English

A peculiar homage to the things that go wrong, this film is purportedly about rugby. The self-explanatory title for this jumpy “documentary” is less concerned with the filmed subject (the game, the field, the players) than a comic editing style and the complete acknowledgement given to the technical aspect of gathering and manipulating raw footage.

Les Enfants de l’ovale... Un essai qui transforme !

May 2012 •Arabic

Outside Center

September 2023 •English

Finding community via his gay rugby league, Jamaican-born Desmond navigates life, love, and identity as an immigrant living in Munich, Germany.

Murderball

July 2005 •English

Quadriplegics, who play full-contact rugby in wheelchairs, overcome unimaginable obstacles to compete in the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.

La Plata Rugby Club

July 2014 •Italian

An historical documentary that rereads the recent death of Jorge Videla, bloodthirsty dictator of Argentina in the 70’s, telling the disappearance, one by one, of the members of La Plata Rugby club. A tragic and compelling story where the passion for politics and sport is opposed to a fascist - military regime.

Living With Lions

November 1999 •English

Exclusive two-disc film documenting the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in the summer of 1997. The unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the team shows the preparations, the training, the fun, the team selection, the 'earthy' language, the bonding, the awesome task of playing and some shocking footage of injuries. Despite securing the series with wins in the first two tests, the Lions remained motivated by the prospect of a 3-0 whitewash, a feat never achieved against the Springboks throughout the century.

By the Balls

July 2019 •English

Sport and politics most definitely do mix in this gripping look back at a brutal and turbulent time for New Zealand rugby, told from the point of view of the players themselves including David Kirk and Buck Shelford.

XV Beyond the Tryline

December 2016 •English

A behind the scenes look at the sport of rugby with the 2015 Rugby World Cup as a backdrop, featuring interviews from players, coaches, referees and fans.

Anthony Foley: Munsterman

October 2016 •English

In October 2016 news of the sudden death of Munster rugby head coach Anthony 'Axel' Foley reverberated throughout the rugby world and beyond. This documentary tells a story of Munster rugby through his life. Told from within the Munster family, we get to know the man and get an extraordinary honest insight into the events surrounding Anthony's time as head coach, his death and the emotional aftermath.

Living With The Pride: Lions Tour 2009

January 2009 •English

Documentary following The British & Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa

Family, Faith, Footy: A Pasifika Rugby Story

September 2023 •English

Celebrating Pasifika rugby players and their communities. A story about small islands, big dreams and the sacrifices made by many to produce some of the world’s greatest players.

Clive Sullivan: Rugby League Legend

October 2022 •English

Football icon Nathan Blake uncovers the incredible story of a Welsh rugby legend: his uncle, Clive Sullivan, who was the first black man to captain Great Britain in any sport.

Colours By Numbers: The Sudokumentary

February 2009 •English

Australia's first national sudoku team The Numbats - four ex-rugby mates - travel into the unknown of competitive puzzling as they enter the World Sudoku Championships in Goa, India.

The 16th Man

May 2010 •English

Rugby Union has long been viewed in South Africa as a game for the white population, and the country’s success in the sport has been a true source of Afrikaner pride. When the 50-year-old policies and entrenched injustices of apartheid were finally overthrown in 1994, Nelson Mandela’s new government began rebuilding a nation badly in need of racial unity. So the world was watching when South Africa played host to the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Though they had only one non-white player, the South African Springboks gained supporters of all colors as they made an improbable run into the final match where they beat the heavily favored New Zealand team. When Mandela himself marched to the center of the pitch cloaked in a Springbok jersey and shook hands with the captain of the South African team, two nations became one. Oscar winner Morgan Freeman and director Cliff Bestall will tell the emotional story of that cornerstone moment and what it meant to South Africa’s healing process.

Haka Nation

August 2019 •French

Women of Steel

October 2022 •English

Following the England Women’s Rugby League squad as they build up to the biggest competition of their lives, a home World Cup in October 2022. This raw and honest journey takes a look at the women who are battling for a place in the squad, despite not being paid professionals and having to hold down full-time jobs alongside club rugby and England commitments.