Former students from Gloucestershire's prestigious Hartpury College and Hartpury University are starring in a new Netflix documentary about the Six Nations.
The eight-part series called Full Contact documents the behind-the-scenes journey to the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship and features former Hartpury students Ellis Genge, Louis Rees-Zammit, Stephen Varney and Sebastian Negri.
A must-watch for Rugby fans, the series gives viewers an insight into the adversities and achievements of the players on the international stage, as well as a candid look into the personal lives of elite rugby players, what drives them to excel and the sometimes difficult decisions they have to make both on and off the pitch.
Featuring exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, it provides a captivating portrayal of the players.
Hartpury is well-known for its Six Nations heritage and producing top-class talent, offering students a dual-career pathway that enables them to train and compete at the highest level alongside studying for A Levels, diplomas and degrees at the same time. Hartpury is one of only 10 sports academies to offer students this opportunity, with its integrated programme of coaching and education being praised by players, coaches and governing bodies in the sport. It has been rated triple Gold in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework, too.
Its relationship with Gloucester Rugby gives students a route from junior level to playing professionally.
Its presence in the Six Nations continues into 2024, with Genge, Varney and Negri all being selected for their respective squads again this year, as well as former Hartpury College student and current England scrum coach, Tom Harrison, also being part of the coaching team.
Most notably, former student Dafydd Jenkins has also been named the new Wales captain — becoming the second youngest Wales captain in history.
Rees-Zammit won't be taking part this time, as he is heading to the USA to pursue his NFL dreams.
Full Contact was released on Netflix on Wednesday 24 January 2024 and is available to stream now.
