蜜芽传媒

When the Irish rugby team gave an unusually wholehearted rendition of Ireland鈥檚 Call before a Six Nations game early in 2023, the captain Jonny Sexton explained it was because the players had been moved and inspired by the documentary Shoulder to Shoulder.

This 2018 film sees the former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll on a journey to tell the story of the Irish national rugby team which brings players and fans from the whole island of Ireland together.

During the Troubles, as violence raged between communities, the Irish rugby team remained an all-island one, with players from both traditions playing together. This film explores how this continued as partition divided the island, and why more than 100 years later, the Irish rugby team stands shoulder to shoulder and with fans from both communities, singing the 'alternative national anthem', Ireland鈥檚 Call.

This documentary made headlines when it was first shown, as Brian O鈥橠riscoll met members of the Orange Order who are also diehard Ireland rugby fans. And it made headlines again early in 2023 when, after Ireland鈥檚 convincing victory over Italy, Jonny Sexton said, 'We had a very special week, a special build-up to the game. We had special guests in during the week who spoke about Ireland's Call. It was very emotional.... Brian, Craig Doyle and the Doc came in and spoke to us about the Shoulder to Shoulder documentary'. Ahead of the Rugby World Cup, Shoulder to Shoulder may well continue to inspire.