Film role for ref Nigel
INTERNATIONAL rugby referee Nigel Owens has revealed he’ll ref the final in a Bollywood movie about the sport which is being filmed in Wales and India.
The film, described as Bend it Like Beckham meets Slumdog Millionaire, is based on the real story of a 2007 youth charity rugby tournament.
Players from disadvantaged backgrounds in countries including India, South Africa, Romania and Kenya came to the UK to compete in the real tournament.
Many of the scenes for the film, called Jungle Cry, will be shot on Welsh rugby pitches, including Llanelli’s Parc y Scarlets, and there’ll be castings in Cardiff and Swansea this weekend, as producers search for more than 40 teenage actors to play the Indian team’s opponents.
Producer Prashant Shah’s Bollywood Hollywood company has started filming in India, with Bollywood star Abhay Deol playing a rugby coach.
Nigel says he hopes even more people will learn about rugby when they see the film.
“I’m refereeing the final, which is due to be played in Parc y Scarlets in December sometime,” says Owens, who’ll be taking part on a voluntary basis. “Hopefully it’ll bring a bit of a profile to the game in countries like India where World Rugby are trying to promote it.
“I’m more than happy to to contribute in any way that helps promote the film, and to promote rugby in a lot of countries and to audiences that rugby might otherwise not have reached.”
Casting is taking place in Swansea tomorrow for rugby-playing extras aged between 16 and 19. Email Chloe@ falconcasting.uk
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