Rugby might not be the first sport that comes to mind when thinking about Hollywood stars or global icons, but you’d be surprised to learn that some of the world’s biggest names have strong ties to the game.
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Whether they played in their youth or pursued it alongside other passions, these five celebrities all share an unexpected history with rugby.
1. Javier Bardem: The Rugby Rebel
Before captivating audiences as a Bond villain, Javier Bardem was making tackles on the rugby pitch. The Spanish actor revealed his love for the sport during an interview with RugbyPass TV at the Rugby World Cup France 2023 semi-final between Argentina and New Zealand.
“I played for Spain,” Bardem shared. “I started when I was nine years old and played until I was 23. It’s my passion. Playing rugby in Spain is like being a bullfighter in Japan—it didn’t make sense back then, but now there’s much more support for the sport in Spain.”