SYNOPSIS
In This Sporting Life, Richard Harris plays Frank, a miner who lodges with a widow (Rachel Roberts). His competitive nature and powerful physique mean that when he reads of the success and respect gained by the local rugby team, he decides to join and share in the glory. However, as Frank’s career progresses, his brutality distances him from those around him, with devastating consequences.
Based on the novel by acclaimed writer and former Rugby player David Storey, who also wrote the script and appeared in a minor role in the film, This Sporting Life was the first feature by director Lindsay Anderson, a gifted reporter of everyday realities who previously worked as a documentary filmmaker and theatre stage director.
