Crusaders Rugby X Mardyke Arena, Ireland

Behind the Scenes: Filming the Crusaders Rugby Team at Mardyke Arena Cork

When Ben, director of Outcome Digital and proud Kiwi, got the phone call about this project, there was a definite buzz in the office. We were thrilled to be a part of this exciting project – filming the legendary Crusaders Rugby team from Ben’s hometown of Marlborough, New Zealand at the state-of-the-art elite gym facilities of Mardyke Arena Health & Leisure Centre in Cork, Ireland. This endeavour unfolded over a week, offering a glimpse into the team's meticulous preparations ahead of their much-anticipated match against the Munster Rugby team at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in early 2024.

The Creative Journey Begins

For our team of creatives, this was an exhilarating opportunity to capture the spirit and dedication of the Crusaders as they honed their skills in the cutting-edge environment of Mardyke Arena's new gym facilities.

We set out guidelines of key locations and areas of the gym which needed particular focus, as well as creating a play-by-play run of each day so as to seamlessly capture the team in action, without disturbing their focus whilst training.

Capturing The Moment

While focusing on the Mardyke Arena’s state-of-the-art gym facilities, it was vital that the Crusaders team and their coaching staff were allowed to continue their training without interruption and that their privacy was maintained so certain elements of their training, specific rugby plays and training drills were not allowed to be filmed ahead of their match against Munster Rugby in Cork, Ireland.

Our creative team embraced the present moment, were clear and confident, and let our narrative unfold organically. The beauty of storytelling lies in its ability to adapt and grow alongside your journey.

Looking Ahead

Our experience filming the Crusaders at Mardyke Arena was not just about capturing moments; it was about immersing ourselves in the energy and camaraderie of a world-class team.