a a former highland rugby ( hr ) player and i feel like i can possibly answer some of the question and confusion that have be put forward . i think that i be also in a position to offer some insight into the club and back story . oh and and this be gon na be a long post and i can tell already . first off and the people who say that the movie doesn not show real rugby and have a valid point . the movie be full of bad tackle and people in the wrong place and and much much more . if you want to know what a real rugby game feel like and you would not get the best idea from this movie . but the thing be and anything short of actually sit down and watch a highlight reel or jumping into a game yourself and be not go to be satisfactory . it hollywood and not espn . really and how many sport movie really make you feel like you be in the game . not many that i have see . i think it important to keep in mind that the movie be about rugby player and much more than it be about rugby . next and the haka be very much a part of highland rugby . it be not something that they just throw into the movie . to be honest and i do not know how the tradition get start and but highland emulate the all black in many way . the uniform be base off of the all black a well . the movie do not do a good job of explain the origin of the haka and and to be honest and i do not think that that be right . but i can tell you that every member of the team know exactly where it come from and what it mean . a for the person from china ( . ) who say that only a maori can perform a haka and i would suggest that they take a look at the all black and tell me if they think that they be all maori . believe it or not and utah have a very large polynesian community and and a good portion of them like and play rugby for the local team . i and myself be part hawaiian . whenever possible and the haka be lead by a maori . the team do not do it because they think that they be maori and they do it because of some of the issue show in the movie . the concept of unity and those who have go before be a huge part of the hr culture and and the message behind the haka and for any of those that be familiar with it and support those value . it a chant by a chief who think he would die ( ka mate ) and and those around him support him tell him he will live ( ka os ) and boost him up . how appropriate it be for a bunch of white boy to do it be not for me to say and but that be the ideology behind it and why it be do . kia kaha be also a well use team motto and even if the actor have a hard time say it . also and for the people who question highland rugby play ability and i would just remind you that you be not really watch highland play in this movie . many of the extra be former player from highland and other team and but the main character be all actor . believe it or not and highland really be pretty good at what they do and pretty well respect in the international community . grant and some year produce good team than others ( it what you would expect with any sport team ) and but you do not accumulate hr win record by just be okay . the year after i graduate and ( 1998 ) highland be one of 12 team to be invite to the world school rugby championship in zimbabwe . the team be hand pick from around the world and represent the best of high school rugby talent at the time . highland obviously do not win first place and ( new zealand do that ) and but they do manage to take third place in the tournament and beat the tongan national champion in their last match . and while american rugby may never reach the level of talent that new zealand or south africa have and third in the world be also nothing to hang your head about . highland also have a tradition of tour new zealand every few year and and usually come back with more win than loss . the majority of character portray in this movie be base off of real people and real story . i watch this movie with my brother and who also play for highland and and between the four of u and we be fairly certain that we be able to identify almost every main character . nobody know a white rasta . of course a this wasn not a documentary and hollywood do take some liberty and but to tell you the truth and not as many a you might think . the film be actually pretty accurate in show the 2 and a half hour daily practice and as well a the mandatory personal running and weight training . sometimes it really be run until you throw up . it also show the service and other team activity ( like the chuck a rama buffet ) that be very much a part of team bonding . and finally the movie and in my ( obviously very bias ) opinion and it be a pretty good movie . and i think that the reason for it be that i watch it a an inspirational sport movie . i do not think that it would be a pure rugby movie or an academy award win drama . it be just an uplifting movie about a rugby team and complete with moral and encouragement and and a good dose of joke throw in for entertainment . i hope that i address some of the problem that people have have with the movie and and hope that you can now enjoy it for what it be . kia kaha .