Forever Strong ... A MUSt See Movie

Just watched it tonight. What a good movie. Oprah has her book club, maybe Southpaw could gave a movie club here!!


"It's not about rugby, it's about young men. It's not about building a championship team, it's about building championship boys. Boys who will be forever strong." - Larry Gelwix

Glad you enjoyed it Papi. Ammendment to my earlier post. Be sure to watch the Special Features on the DVD. The interview/commentary with Coach Gelwix and his discussion of The Haka are absolutely terrific.

Ruck On!

I agree there are some good lessons taught in this movie.

Thanks for the suggestion to watch the special features. I'll do that soon.

Can't say I understand the sport too well but it is cool that my home state is dominant in it at that age and the local colleges do quite well too.

I'll try that movie for sure... and I'll also recommend one; "Man On Wire"... it is a movie of teamwork and persistance.

quote:

Originally posted by southpaw_dad:
Okay ... this is not a baseball film, but is based upon the premier HS Rugby team in the country. Buy it, rent it, Netflix it, but be sure to watch it and then get back to me if you do not think this is a must see for all parents, players & coaches.

Forever Strong

If you have HULU.com you can watch it on there as it is available on HULU for free. I just checked.

Also on Netflix

I just happened to eat at a rugby bar last week, now this movie...I might just make rugby my third favorite sport.


Check This Out

The actor who plays the coach in forever Strong is a local chicago guy named Gary Cole, grew up in the northwest suburbs of chicago.

Not to mention Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

Rudy (Football) ... The Final Season (Baseball) ... Forever Strong (Rugby) ... Sean Astin seems to have a knack for finding good roles in quality sports films that shine a light on the values that lead to success in the much bigger game of life.

Papi -- 1) Baseball, 2) Rugby ... what more do you need?

I spent 10 years playing Baseball; followed by 15 years playing Rugby; coached baseball for 10 years; and just started coaching Rugby this spring. If the patern holds, I guess I know what I'll be doing for the next 14 years.

Recently I saw a prescreening of Soul Surfer, the story of Betahany Hamilton, a 14 year old surfer who last an arm in a shark attack, then went on to win the Junior Nationals surfing competition.

A Sony Studios production, it has high quality production and a a good cast including Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, Craig T. Nelson...

Even more of a quality message.

Opens nationally April 8. Check it out.

quote:

Originally posted by southpaw_dad:


Papi -- 1) Baseball, 2) Rugby ... what more do you need?

Hockey!!

Okay Papi. I'll give you that. Baseball & Rugby in the Spring & Fall. Southern Hemisphere international Rugby & Hockey in the Winter. Yupp ... that will work.

Ok Southpaw, tell me where I can learn about rugby. Is there a particular league I should follow?

Is there an HSRWEB where gotwood4sale blogs goofy rugby photos?

And do I need to learn how to choke down Guinness?

Here you go Papi ...

1st -- You want to watch Rugby Union over Rugby League (2 different versions of the game). Rugby Union is the traditional game. Once you learn a few basics of the game, you'll find it a great sport to follow, and with the World Cup in New Zealand this year, 2011 should be a great year to be a Rugby fan. If you follow hockey, you'll have no problem with Rugby ... and will love the game.

Rugby 101 videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEQyCcageGg


In the US you can watch Rugby on Fox S****R Plus (that's the bad news)and I see Direct TV has their own Rugby offering:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/...gby?footernavtype=-1


The ultimate in Rugby is the World Cup -- The top 20 international teams in the world face off for the Ellis Cup.

Next tier is the Tri Nation & 6 Nations international matches (the premier international matches of the Southern & Northern Hemispheres respctively).

The top professional leagues are the Super 14 (southern hemisphere), the Premiership and the Heinekin Cup in the Northern Hemisphere.


In many cities you will find a local Pub style restaurant that televises international matches for the Rugby fans in the area. There is nothing like a Rugby crowd.

Websites:

International Rugby Board -- www.irb.com

USA Rugby -- www.usarugby.org

2011 Rugby World Cup -- www.worldcup2011.com

I don't believe there is a HSRugbyweb.com ... but Lord knows that after all of the concussions most of us could use having Woody around to communicate with us in pictures


Bonus: Check out one of the most powerful forces to ever play the game ... Jona Lomu, former New Zealand All Black and the most feared man in the game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsXTa7UCGlk

Another good movie is Facing the Giants. It's a H.S football movie.

Here's a little more about the team and the coach portrayed in the movie.

Highland Rugby

More Highland Rugby

Glad to see rugby getting positive remarks here on a baseball website. I played the game in three decades of my life until my early 40's and still dream I'm playing. And thanks for the movie recommendations.

quote:

Originally posted by southpaw_dad:
Okay ... this is not a baseball film, but is based upon the premier HS Rugby team in the country. Buy it, rent it, Netflix it, but be sure to watch it and then get back to me if you do not think this is a must see for all parents, players & coaches.

Forever Strong

Thanks for the heads up- just finished watching this movie and enjoyed it! and, now I understand a "little" of what the heck rugby is all about also.

thanks again!