Top 10 Rugby Movies: A Must Watch List

This article is for those of you who enjoy rugby and rugby films! Rugby is a team sport that is full of effort and values.

We present to you today a list of the 10 best rugby films you can watch at home. These are true stories that have been adapted to cinema and leave us with valuable lessons.

The 10 best rugby movies of all time

Here are our all-time favorite Rugby movies. Choose your favorite from the list and give a summary of the film.

Invictus 2009

Clint Eastwood directs a story based on actual events that tell how South Africa united through sport after Mandela decided to support the South African rugby team at the 1995 World Championship.

The film shows that leadership, optimism, and motivation are essential to unite a population in pursuit of a common goal. Morgan Freeman, as Nelson Mandela, and Matt Damon (who plays the captain of the rugby team, Francois Pienaar) work together to reach decisions that will strengthen the team and, ultimately, the entire population.

We see as the story unfolds how these characters overcome social conflicts through values that strengthen their bonds as a nation. The film shows how a magnificent sport can be combined with emotional leadership to overcome barriers.

Forever Strong (2008)

This film is based on the story of the Highland Rugby team. The main character, Rick Pennig, played by Sean Faris, one of the best rugby players in the group, has an accident due to his behavioral issues and ends up in a detention center.

He meets his adviser, Marcus Tate, played by Sean Astin. Tate helps him to reflect on his past and appreciate his rugby talents. After a life of reform, he joins a team of sincere people who teach him what true companionship is.

This rugby film highlights family values, teamwork, and how Rugby can help regenerate behavior through discipline, humility, and perseverance.

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The Final Winter (2007)

The 1980s rugby league business is shown in this Austrian film produced by Brian Andrews. It shows how the sport's loyalty was shattered. Matt Nable plays the film's protagonist, Grup, the captain of the Newton Jets. He begins a battle against the administration, which wants him to be left out, and the betrayal by the coach and brother.

The desperate group struggles to keep his identity and sporting ideals despite problems at home and in the team. It is a story about loyalty, struggle, and family conflict that shows the other side of Rugby.

Murderball (2005

The documentary tells the story of the training and matches of a team of Americans who wish to compete at the 2004 Paralympic Games of Athens for the wheelchair rugby discipline. The report studies preconceived notions about disability and how the characters overcome them with the help of family and friends.

This film is a sobering look at the fears, desires, feelings, and efforts people with disabilities make to live and reach their dreams.

"Play On" (2010)

It is a story written by Dave Story and Al Dekin about a Scottish rugby player, Keir, who, by his arrogance and desire for fame and his struggle to reach the ideals set by his father (a rugby legend), becomes expelled from his own country. He desperately flees the country, hoping to succeed as a professional soccer player.

Keir's professional and personal development will be slow because he plays for a pitiful Kansas City team. He must then return to Scotland to join his new team. There, he is forced to choose between his principles and family reconciliation. Sports fans can learn a lot from history, which is full of values.

Il Terzo Tempo (2013)

Samuel, played by Lorenzo Richelmy, is a young criminal who lives between crimes. He enters a rehabilitation program, where he meets Vienzo, his advisor (Stefano Casseti), a man facing a difficult season with his rugby team and the recent loss of his wife.

In an attempt to help Samuel, Vincenzo integrates Samuel into his rugby squad after observing and talking with him. He guides his team to victory after a series of events.

Jo's Boy 2011

This is a beautiful film about a former rugby player, Jo Canavaro (Gerard Lanvin), raising his son Tom (13 years old) by himself and trying to pass on the passion and love for the sport which has run in his family since the early days. Tom's performance on the court could be better than his father's.

Phillippe Guillard's film shows the discord in Jo's family when his son refuses to carry on with Rugby and the legacy passed down through generations. A company also threatens to seize the land on which he built his house and playing field, a film about strengthening the family bond.

Handsome Devil 2016

John Butler directs this coming-of-age film that tells the story of Ned—a misfit teen who is sent away to an Irish boarding school. Conor is a rugby star who is also an outcast because of his love of music.

While their friendship grows, Ned & Conor have to navigate the homophobic culture of their school while trying their best to follow their passions. This film is a touching story of friendship, self-discovery, and acceptance. It will uplift the audience.

Building Jerusalem (2015)

The film begins with a collage of clips from the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, in which England lost to South Africa. The team was devastated by the defeat and had a burning desire for victory in 2003. The film explores how the team mentally and physically prepared for the 2003 tournament.

The film looks at how the players prepared for the tournament. Jonny Wilkinson and Martin Johnson are working hard to achieve the best possible fitness and form. We glimpse their mentality and how they prepared for the challenges ahead.

The film crescendos as the tournament continues. England faces off against Australia in the final after overcoming tough challenges such as Wales and France. As the match flows and ebbs, both teams are giving their best.

Mercenary 2016

The story of Soane is told in this drama directed by Sacha Wolff. Soane is a young Wallisian who dreams of being a professional rugby athlete in France. He can get a place in the French team despite racism and discrimination. Soane begins to question his sacrifices as he immerses himself in the world of professional Rugby.

The film explores themes such as identity, cultural displacement, and the high price of chasing your dreams.

Final Notes

You can see that the stories of rugby movies portray this sport as a symbol of sacrifice, friendship, and family values. This sport has shaped the lives of many.