Scrum

“Convicts forever. Forever a f***in’ Convict!”

They breed them big in the world of rugby union. In the Sydney Convicts they are burly, bearded brute forces, ready to knock each other into the mud just to get the ball. Bruises and broken bones, it’s all part of the on field Scrum.

The blokes in the Sydney Convicts also happen to be gay, some of the 1000 men competing in the Bingham Cup.

As previous documentaries have noted, the Bingham Cup was established in honour of Mark Bingham, one of the United 93 passengers who overtook terrorists in 2001, but died in the process. His mother Alice Holgand has become something of a mother hen to all the men who compete in his honour.

This documentary by filmmaker Poppy Stockwell follows the Sydney Convicts in 2014 when the tournament was held in Sydney for the first time. It focusses on the preparations and mateship in their bid at ultimate glory. Make no mistake, this is serious business with gruelling training and professional skill.

There are 3 players featured within the doco. The most endearing of these is Japanese player, Aki. At home in Japan he entered the words ‘gay’ and ‘rugby’ into Google and the Sydney Convicts came up. He made it his mission to join. But despite his large size in Japan, he is comparatively small amongst the Convicts.

Handsome Canadian jock, Brennan, left his previous rugby club after being isolated by his teammates.

“They found out I was gay,” he recalls.

“At the playing level I didn’t fit in.”

Within the Convicts he found a family -but there is still competition, with Aki also vying for the position of loose head prop. When positions are announced for games, one will have to wait on the bench.

Irish backpacker Pearse lied when they asked him if he’d ever played rugby before, but he too was looking for somewhere to belong. He has the advantage of size and the coach knows it.

Scrum echoes messages of desiring a place to belong, notably from some men who were previously in the closet.

“I couldn’t understand how I could be gay and be a good sportsman,” says one.

“I was told I could never do anything,” says another.

“I can look at myself in the mirror. I don’t hate who I am,” another admits.

Poppywell also captures some of the private life of the men, whether confronting rigorous training or in social and romantic moments. At home there are supportive partners, at the bar there is camaraderie and a hint of flirting. As 14 other nations arrive for the Bingham Cup, there is strength in numbers for many who have felt like outcasts.

Scrum remains focussed on the prized trophy and the sacrifices required of individuals for the greater good of the team. Without giving too much away, their matches resulting in rival teams scoring absolute zeros is remarkable.

With cinematography by Jody Muston, editing by Jason Last and music by Colin Stetson, Scrum serves as a tribute to identity, mateship and the memory of a hero.

Scrum airs 8:30pm Tuesday on Showcase.