Sports Ireland is about more than scores and trophies, and a new documentary is set to bring that message to cinema audiences across the country. Try!, a film following an Irish mixed ability rugby team on its journey to the World Cup, will open nationwide on October 2 after winning Best Irish Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh.
Try! brings inclusive rugby to the big screen
Directed by Oisín Mistéil, Try! follows four Irish players as they prepare for the Mixed Ability Rugby World Cup in Spain. The documentary moves from training sessions in Ireland to the decisive stages of the international tournament, capturing the sporting ambition and personal challenges involved along the way.
Mixed ability rugby is a full-contact, 15-a-side format in which players with and without disabilities compete together. The film highlights how an inclusive structure can open doors for people who have often found themselves excluded from traditional team sports.
One of the players featured is Richie, an autistic rugby player who had previously been unable to find a place in the sport. His experience changed after he joined Cork-based side The Rebels, giving the documentary a strong local connection as well as a wider message about access and belonging.
A story rooted in Irish community sport
While Try! is built around rugby, its central themes reach well beyond the pitch. The film examines how sports clubs can provide friendship, confidence and a genuine sense of community for people who have historically been left on the sidelines.
That makes the documentary relevant to the broader conversation around Irish sports, grassroots participation and the future of inclusive sporting programmes. From rugby clubs to GAA teams and other community organisations, the film raises important questions about who gets to take part and how sporting environments can become more welcoming.
“Spoiler alert: it’s for everyone,” director Oisín Mistéil said, describing the film as a celebration of sport’s ability to create community.
Galway Film Fleadh success adds to anticipation
The cinema release follows a significant achievement for the debut feature. Winning Best Irish Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh has placed Try! firmly on the radar of audiences interested in Irish cinema, rugby and real-life sporting stories.
Mistéil said that growing up playing team sports can make it easy to overlook the importance of belonging. The players at the centre of the documentary, he explained, prompted him to consider two fundamental questions: who is sport for, and what is sport for?
The director believes mixed ability rugby offers a powerful answer. If inclusion can succeed in a demanding, physical environment such as a rugby pitch, the same principles can potentially be applied in workplaces, communities and wider society.
Irish production with major support
The documentary was produced by Claire McCabe, whose previous work includes Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story. David Collins, known for Once, serves as executive producer.
Try! received support from Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán and Virgin Media Television. That backing reflects the film’s importance as both an Irish sporting documentary and a story about representation.
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When will Try! be released in Irish cinemas?
Try! will be released in cinemas nationwide on October 2, 2026. Information about special screenings and individual cinema listings is available through the film’s official website, tryfilm.ie.
The release gives Irish audiences an opportunity to see a different side of rugby: one defined not only by competition, but also by access, friendship and shared purpose. The next step is for supporters, clubs and sports organisations to help carry that message beyond the cinema and into everyday participation.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby
