Rugby Film Review: Flashdance

My husband and I are driving to Maine for literally a one night overnight trip - the only full 24 hours we’ve had free of any rugby since February 🤣

While in the car (and still thinking about rugby) the song “What a Feeling” randomly came on and immediately reminded me how great of a pump up movie this is for rugby. I used to watch this movie all the time, especially when my dreams of playing at a national level actually seemed within reach, because I loved the premise of “if you’ve got the goods, then you’ve got the goods.” If you’re a good dancer, you’re a good dancer even if you’re a stripper auditioning for a ballet company. If you’re a good rugby player, then you’re a good rugby player even if you’re coming from a small college or club with little to no elite training.

Flashdance deserves a seat in your locker room TV rotation. It’s got everything a rugby player needs before taking the field: grit, drive, sweat, and pure, undiluted hustle.

Here are more reasons why Flashdance is secretly the hype film we didn’t know we needed:

1. The Training Montage to End All Training Montages

Every great athlete loves a montage, and I think rugby in particular appreciates the grind of hard work. Jennifer Beals’ character, Alex, goes from welding during the day to dancing her heart out at night, and her training scenes are filled with explosive energy. The dedication is contagious. This scene always pushed me through the fatigue of day to day work in a job that I was not particularly interested in to still get myself to the gym, which is much easier said than done.

2. It’s About Outsiders Proving They Belong

Rugby is full of late bloomers, position-switchers, and people who never felt at home in traditional sports. That’s what makes it beautiful. Flashdance is about someone who doesn’t come from the “right” background or training pathway but still claws her way toward her dream. Boy oh boy do I identify with that. No, I didn’t go to a prestigious rugby school or play for a prestigious rugby club. But I know that I have the nonteachables that some of those rugby players may not have: the desire to keep searching for knowledge, the will to keep going even when it’s inconvenient or incredibly hard, and the humility to know that I don’t know everything and have a lot to gain from working with others.

3. The Soundtrack Will Light You Up

If “Maniac” doesn’t get your blood pumping, check your pulse. The soundtrack is wall-to-wall bangers. The 80s synthesizer usage is UNMATCHED. “What a Feeling” is the perfect cooldown anthem after a tough win or a heartbreaking loss, because it reminds you why you do it: for the rush, the rhythm, the dream.

4. It Centers the Importance of Guts Over Glamour

Alex doesn’t win because she’s flashy, she wins because she wants it more. She works in steel-toed boots, fights self-doubt, and gets back up when she’s knocked down. That’s rugby in a nutshell. It’s not always pretty. It’s about heart, resilience, and showing up even when no one’s watching.

5. That Final Audition Scene? 🥹

The final dance scene is chef’s kiss pump-up perfection, especially for rugby. Alex’s final audition is not just about nailing choreography, you can tell that she’s fully feeling it and reacting to the music. She genuinely believes that what she’s doing is great and worthy of that high level, even if it’s not necessarily what the judges were initially looking for. A rugby player with a great pass won’t be very useful if they can’t read the field and naturally make decisions under pressure.

You might not pick up any new tackling techniques when watching this movie the night before a game, but you’ll remember why we play this chaotic, beautiful sport: because we’ve got fire in our chests and dreams big enough to dance for.