The Rugby Star
1976, Japanese. Directed by Akira Shimizu.
The success of Truck Yaro (1975-1979) initiated a whole load of movies that put "Yaro" in their title, including this semi-bonkers sports comedy/drama. Sonny Chiba's brother Jiro Chiba stars as a Rugby player whose team must find a way to beat the opponent. It's a standard storyline without any major surprises, but works surprisingly well. Training scenes are relatively nuts; much better than the actual matches actually, which tend to go on forever. There is no sex, nudity or graphic violence, making this a family friendly affair. Sonny Chiba appears for about 7 minutes during the last third as a truck driver who comes to Jiro's rescue.
- Runtime
- 1h 28m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Japanese
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch The Rugby Star
The Rugby Star isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 15 May 1976.
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Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 15 May 1976
- Original title
- ラクビー野郎
- Country
- Japan
- Written by
- Motohiro Torii, Shizuo Nonami
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News & fan talk
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The Rugby Star: quick answers
Is The Rugby Star worth watching?
The Rugby Star doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Rugby Star?
The Rugby Star runs 88 minutes (1h 28m).
Does The Rugby Star have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Rugby Star. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Rugby Star parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Rugby Star yet.
Which OTT platform is The Rugby Star on?
The Rugby Star isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 15 May 1976. (Checked 11 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Rugby Star?
If you liked The Rugby Star, try Trouble Man, Double Threat, Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen.
Who directed The Rugby Star?
The Rugby Star (1976) was directed by Akira Shimizu and stars Jirô Chiba, Koji Nanjo, Kentaro Maki.