Seven rugby documentaries to watch over Christmas

With the Christmas holiday season in full swing, there’ll be plenty of time to binge on TV shows and movies. We’ve put together a list of seven rugby documentaries that should keep any rugby fan entertained over the festive period. Whether you enjoy comedy, behind the scenes documentaries, travel shows or inspirational stories, there’s something in here for everyone. Enjoy and please share with any fellow rugby fans.

BEYOND 80 – KNOCKED

In the first episode of our RugbyPass series, ‘Beyond 80’ takes an unflinching look at the reality of concussion in rugby. ‘Knocked’ sees a cast of international players, referees, medical experts and stakeholders from the sport, give a unique insight into the condition and what’s being done to raise awareness in the game.

OPERATION JAYPAN – RWC 2018

With less than a year to go until the Rugby World Cup 2019, we sent RugbyPass’ Jaybor Staunton to Japan to explore the host cities and find out what fans can look forward to in 2019.

Over the course of a packed 10 days, Jaybor travels from tip to toe of Japan by plane, train, taxi, Mario Kart, helicopter and bicycle from the northern city of Sapporo through Kamaishi, Tokyo, Shizuoka and onto Toyota.

Part 2 sees Jaybor continue his journey all the way to the southern island of Kyushu.

GAME DAY – PRO 14 FINAL

In an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary, RugbyPass looks back at the 2018 Guinness PRO14 Finals.‘Game Day’ gives a unique insight into the hard work that goes into such days; from groundsmen to chefs, from referees to TMOs, and from the point of view of the coaches and players themselves.

Leinster Rugby and Scarlets met for the sixth time in a little over 12 months, and RugbyPass was there to chronicle the final chapter in the 2018/19 PRO14 season.

RUGBY EXPLORER – SINGAPORE

Jim Hamilton travels to Singapore to explore the city and find out more about the rugby scene in the Southeast Asian country. He meets up with the national team captain and some local players for a traditional steamboat. He also gets his boots on for a training session with the Wanderers and is given a history lesson at the Singapore Cricket Club.

If you want to see more of Jim’s adventures, you can follow him as he travels to Hong Kong here.

EXCEPTIONAL STORIES – HENRY FRASER

At 17-years-old Henry Fraser was a senior prefect at Dulwich College, in southeast London. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Saracens flanker Will Fraser, Henry played his rugby with Saracens academy side.

Henry’s world would be turned on its head in the summer of 2009 when on holiday with his friends in Portugal. The innocuous decision to dive into the sea would leave him with a crushed and severed spine.

In this episode, RugbyPass meets the man that has triumphed in adversity, as Henry Fraser tells us his Exceptional Story.

The second episode of Exceptional stories hears the inspiring journey of Ian Mckinley, who overcame the loss of sight in one eye to become an international fly-half. You can watch it here

KIWIS ABROAD – PRESEASON TRAINING

Join RugbyPass employee of the month runner-up Sam Smith as he embarks on an epic journey across Europe to track down some of the finest Kiwi talent plying their trade in the Northern Hemisphere.

Sam catches up with Ben Franks and Jerome Kaino among others, getting a better understanding of exactly what life is like for Kiwi exports up north.

TACKLING AFRICA – BHUBESI PRIDE

Earlier this year we travelled to Malawi with RugbyDumps’ Grant Constable to spend time with Bhubesi Pride Foundation, a rugby coaching based charity that works with rural communities throughout beautiful Africa. This engaging 30-minute piece documents our incredible experience there.