A rugby documentary with a distinct San Diego flavor will make its television debut later this month. On Aug. 25, the film “Try” will air on satellite sports channel Setanta Sports.
“Try” follows three San Diegans as they attempt to make the USA Men’s National Team for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In addition to Setanta Sports, the hourlong film will air on ESPN, with no date set.
“There are some Hollywood feature films that inspire sports fans and non-sports fans alike,” said writer and producer Brian Cushman. “This is a real-life version of that, featuring three players from San Diego.”
Grace Farah, an Australian that lives part of the year in San Diego, and Cushman’s wife, directed the film. Farah traveled with both the national team and the three athletes featured in the film for a year, and the entire project took 18 months to complete.
Cushman said Farah was inspired by the American rugby team’s performance at the 2003 World Cup. In 2003, despite being heavy underdogs, the squad beat Japan for their only win of the tournament.
The idea for the film crystallized later, according to Cushman, when Farah met members of the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club rugby team. One of those players was Dan Payne, former SDSU rugby coach and one of the three athletes featured in the film.
The other two athletes are Latu Paloka, an Iraq War veteran, and Jarvis Albury, who has to deal with personal and professional problems while trying to make the team.
“All three men have equally impressive stories,” Cushman said.
Viewers find out by the end of the film if the three San Diegans make the team. The film features interviews and footage from training, the USA Sevens tournament held annually in San Diego and the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
“The overall crux of the film is American rugby and the 2007 World Cup,” Cushman said. “The focus of the film is three San Diego rugby players trying to make the team.”
Cushman said the Americans are underdogs in rugby because it is an amateur sport in the States, while in other countries national team members are paid to play. This forces members of the team to train and practice for the USA Men’s National Team around their actual jobs, a topic addressed in the film.
“As much as Americans are the favorite in some sports, they are an equal underdog in rugby because they are facing teams of trained professionals,” Cushman said.
Another reason American rugby is behind the rest of the world is because the popularity of rugby is lower in the U.S. than it is in the rest of the world. The film addresses this issue, talking about USA Rugby and aspects of junior programs. Cushman hopes to see rugby grow in popularity in the States.
“Hopefully in about 10 years, the U.S. will have a team that will not only compete but will be one of those teams that can win the World Cup,” Cushman said.
Those who are not familiar with rugby may learn a thing or two from the film. Cushman said the goal of the film, however, is to inspire.
“It’s an inspirational reminder to everyone the importance of achieving a dream,” Cushman said. “The journey is more important than achieving the dream.”