Five Hollywood stars with a rugby past

All Blacks

2 hours agoBy: Alan Brown

Rugby and Hollywood might seem worlds apart, but several movie stars have a strong connection to the sport. Here’s a look at five stars who have graced both the rugby field and the silver screen.

With the All Blacks heading to Baltimore for the final Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against South Africa this weekend, rugby is taking centre stage in the United States once again. And while rugby and Hollywood might seem worlds apart, the sport has some surprising connections to the big screen. From a Terminator star who played college rugby in the US to Oscar winners, comedy legends and one of the biggest names in entertainment, here are five movie stars who spent time on the rugby field before, or alongside, their careers on screen.

1. Robert Patrick

Best known for his iconic role as the relentless T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Robert Patrick’s early years were shaped by rugby. Patrick played as a flanker at Ohio State University, giving this list an especially fitting American connection ahead of the All Blacks’ trip to Baltimore. During a visit to New Zealand, Patrick revealed how his rugby background helped with the intense running and chase scenes in T2, with the endurance and physicality of the sport translating naturally to the screen.

2. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Before becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Dwayne Johnson had his own brush with rugby. Johnson spent part of his childhood in New Zealand while his father, Rocky Johnson, was wrestling there and played rugby while living in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn. It was an early taste of the athleticism that would later take him through American football, professional wrestling and eventually to the top of Hollywood.

WATCH: Dwayne Johnson meets New Zealand rugby royalty

3. Javier Bardem

Oscar-winning Spanish actor Javier Bardem was a passionate rugby player long before his Hollywood success. Bardem played the game in Spain and has remained a vocal supporter of Spanish rugby throughout his career and was a regular feature at the 2023 Rugby World Cup as a sideline contributor. The physicality and team environment of rugby formed an unlikely early chapter for an actor who would later star in films including No Country for Old Men and Skyfall.

4. Chris Farley

The late Chris Farley, beloved for his work on Saturday Night Live and films such as Tommy Boy, also had rugby in his background. Farley played rugby while studying theatre and communications at Marquette University, combining the physicality that became such a trademark of his comedy with his emerging talent as a performer.

5. Taika Waititi

Oscar-winning New Zealand director, actor and screenwriter Taika Waititi also has roots in the game. Waititi played club rugby for Wellington’s Poneke before forging his career in film. He revisited those rugby connections in *Taika’s Tour de France* on allblacks.com, putting his skills back on display while following the All Blacks through France.

WATCH: Taika Waititi explores French culture and rugby ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup

Special mention: Matt Damon

Matt Damon may not have grown up playing rugby, but he has become well acquainted with the sport on screen. Damon immersed himself in rugby while preparing to portray Springboks captain Francois Pienaar in Invictus, which told the story of South Africa’s 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph. He also played a rugby-playing character in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, giving him more rugby screen time than most Hollywood A-listers.

Rugby meets America

From college rugby fields to Hollywood sets, the game has left its mark on some unexpected names in American entertainment. This weekend, the connection between rugby and the United States takes another step forward as the All Blacks and Springboks bring one of international sport’s great rivalries to Baltimore, adding another chapter to rugby’s growing story in America.