Spark44 Creates Global Campaign to Show the Spirit of Rugby with Land Rover

To celebrate Land Rover’s worldwide partnership of the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, Spark44 has created a global campaign to demonstrate that no brand understands the spirit of rugby like Land Rover.

The campaign celebrates rugby at a youth grass roots level and is set in countries that are competing in the tournament. It shows how rugby has a place for everyone, whatever shape, size, ability, colour or gender.

The values rugby instils in these young players, are values they take with them in life.

In the 60-second TVC, we cut between different team talks around the world as coaches prepare the young players for the game. This is filmed and edited to feel like one big, global rugby game, creating a feeling of inclusivity and unity.

The ball is then passed from one player to the next around the world. Each player who catches, tackles, or runs with the ball, says to camera what rugby trait or value they possess. For instance, one says ‘I’m loud,’ and another, ‘I’m shy.’ A boy in the midst of a maul says, ‘I’m unflappable,’ while a girl entering a ruck says, ‘I’m unstoppable. A young player in another game says, ‘I move like a rocket’, while in Africa, a small adept boy says, ‘I move like a ballerina’. In Fiji, a boy held back by a tackle says, ‘I hardly move at all.’

The film builds in intensity and crescendos, with some players celebrating and others losing with dignity. Finally, we see a dedicated player still practising conversions after dark, his father waiting, lighting up the posts with his Discovery. He says to camera, "I never want to stop."

The campaign endline appears: "It’s what makes rugby, rugby" before cutting to the Rugby World Cup and Land Rover logos.

The 60-second film launches in England’s first game of the Rugby World Cup 2019.

A series of idents will also appear in breaks throughout each match of the tournament.

The campaign also extends to print, social and digital.

Director Ben Liam Jones at Riff Raff comments: "I like to think kids could watch this and not feel intimated by the game, but instead see the fun and inclusive quality that rugby offers. I was really interested in that challenge of making a sports based commercial that feels grounded."