A Sporting Chance

A new three part TV documentary series follows a group of young men and women who come together to turn their lives around through rugby.

Set in Limerick, ‘A Sporting Chance’ that tells the story of a group of educationally disadvantaged young men and women who are brought together and given a ‘sporting chance’ to change their lives forever through sport. Over three months the group takes on a sport and life skills course in an effort to boost their confidence and enhance their future job prospects.

In partnership with Limerick Southside and the Limerick Education and Training Board,along with help from Munster Rugby, a unique education and sporting training programme was devised and implemented with cameras documenting every step of this game changing journey.

This group of early school leavers are put though a series of life and sporting challenges that push them harder than ever before. From event planning to practical work experience, the group is pushed to do new things they would not have attempted in the past – they hold a photography exhibition, undertake a deeply personal fundraising event, report on major rugby matches and finally travel to London to play in an international tag rugby event.

Most of the group had never held a rugby ball the first time they meet their tag coaches, former Munster player Liam Toland, and former Munster Women’s player Rosie Foley. Facing apathy, anger and personal crises, Liam & Rosie are determined to turn this disparate group into a team and concentrate on improving their fitness, diet, motivation and teamwork. Munster’s Johne Murphy and Felix Jones also muck in with handling and kicking skills while Munster legends Marcus Horan and John Hayes pass on their experiences of playing in the famed Red Jersey.

To view the programme trailer please click here.

The programme airs on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night of this week at 9pm on Setanta Sports.