This time, it’s ‘Ultimate Rugby’. It captures the intense charm of a sport that is solely about moving forward, making it impossible to resist after just one viewing.
On the morning of the 5th, a production presentation for the Netflix variety show ‘Ultimate Rugby: Fight or Win’ (hereafter referred to as Ultimate Rugby) was held at CGV I-Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul. PD Jang Si-won and announcer Jung Yong-geum attended. They were joined by players Na Kwan-young (Korea Electric Power Corporation), Jung Yeon-sik (Hyundai Glovis), Oh Ji-myung (POSCO E&C), Lee Yong-woon (OK Eutman Rugby Team), Kim Won-joo (Korea University), and Seo Woo-hyun (Yonsei University).
‘Ultimate Rugby’ is a sports survival variety show that showcases the true competition of rugby players who throw themselves into the fray for the glory of victory, depicting a month-long journey to determine the strongest rugby team in South Korea.
PD Jang Si-won, who directed ‘Ultimate Baseball’, ‘Steel Troops’, and ‘Fishing in the City’, captures the fierce and desperate battles of South Korean rugby players this time. It will authentically show the dynamic and intense survival of rugby players who move forward solely for victory, as well as the passion and sincerity of players who refuse to give up on rugby despite the harsh environment often referred to as a ‘rugby wasteland’.
PD Jang Si-won said, “It started by chance. After the end of ‘Ultimate Baseball’ Season 1, I happened to go to Sapporo and was looking at the snowy field, and I thought, what if there was blood on this snowy field? It seemed intense to imagine a great battle taking place on this white snow with blood overlapping. When I returned to my accommodation, I thought about what I could do, and rugby came to mind.”
He continued, “I had never seen rugby before, but when I returned to Korea, I watched rugby for the first time. It felt like encountering a new world. In the match I saw, five players were carried off. It seemed so natural to them. I became curious about why they go to such lengths. The moment I saw it for the first time, I wondered why people in the world of rugby throw everything away like this. I heard there’s no prize money for winning. The people in this world play as if today’s match is their last, and that drew me in.”
PD Jang Si-won also mentioned, “Watching rugby, I realized it’s a sport where you have to move forward to win. It seems to resonate with our lives. It must be scary when a big guy charges at you, but you have to face it head-on. Otherwise, you lose. It’s a sport that requires constant forward movement, and I found it moving, thrilling, and admirable. So, even though I’m not a rugby player, I fell in love with this sport as soon as I saw it. I wanted to share this with many people. It’s an unpopular sport, but I hope ‘Ultimate Rugby’ will help it gain recognition.”
‘Ultimate Rugby’ features seven teams, including the Korea Electric Power Corporation, the undisputed strongest rugby team in Korea, which is made up entirely of national team members, Hyundai Glovis, who achieved the honor of winning the ‘Korea Super Rugby League’ for two consecutive years, POSCO E&C, the foundation of power rugby, the dark horse OK Eutman Rugby Team, the military sports team with the spirit of the immortal Phoenix, and the top predators of the university league, Korea University and Yonsei University, which has an 80-year tradition of rugby.
PD Jang Si-won stated, “In ‘Ultimate Baseball’, teams are formed, but in ‘Ultimate Rugby’, active players compete in a tournament for a single championship. The seven teams determine the matchups, and we put a lot of thought into the preliminary games to enhance the interest of the show.”
Announcer Jung Yong-geum, who will be covering the matches, joked, “I thought I was PD Jang Si-won’s persona, and there was no reason to refuse. So I said I would do it. I’m ready to cover any sport.”
He also mentioned, “If ‘Ultimate Baseball’ is a sports movie disguised as a variety show, then ‘Ultimate Rugby’ feels like a sports documentary disguised as a variety show,” and added, “I wondered why they go to such lengths. While watching the competitions, I didn’t feel the practice, but seeing the players actually compete made me think about why they do this.”
He continued, saying he shed tears, “I’m an MBTI ‘T’, and I don’t bless people when I officiate weddings. While covering, one team was winning overwhelmingly, and even though the losing team had players carried off, their eyes didn’t reflect defeat. I don’t know what they were feeling, but I wondered why they kept going until the end, and I found myself becoming an ‘F’ too.”
Player Na Kwan-young said, “I’m happy to be able to promote rugby through Netflix. I feel a sense of responsibility as it seems I will represent Korean rugby. This is the first time I’ve had such a desperate match.”
Player Jung Yeon-sik stated, “I often watched ‘Ultimate Baseball’, and I wanted to promote the charm of rugby, so I did my best to make that wish come true.”
Player Oh Ji-myung expressed, “I’m glad to be able to promote South Korean rugby through the Netflix platform. I aimed to become the protagonist with the goal of winning.”
Player Lee Yong-woon said, “When I heard that ‘Ultimate Rugby’ was being produced by Netflix, I couldn’t believe it. I did my best to film to promote rugby.”
Player Kim Won-joo mentioned, “I’m the youngest, and it’s an honor to be able to promote rugby. I hope people get to know the charm of rugby.” Seo Woo-hyun added, “I was disappointed that this sport doesn’t get much attention, but I approached it with the mindset that I could promote the sport and the players through Ultimate Rugby.”
Meanwhile, player Choi Ho-young from the military sports team, who was expected to attend, did not show up. In response, host Park Kyung-rim explained, “A player from the military sports team was supposed to join, but we received notice that they must focus on their military duties due to the current situation. We ask for your understanding.”
