Bristol's Ellis Genge Shines in New Netflix Rugby Series

While many people depend on Netflix for their TV comedies, dramas, and soaps, rugby fans are now enjoying the new rugby series from the streaming giant.

This behind the scenes look at the Six Nations tournament allows viewers to see their favourite stars in a way they have never been portrayed before. Taking inspiration from the successful “Drive to Survive” Formula 1 series, Six Nations Full Contact is aimed at die hard rugby fans and curious viewers alike. The hope is that the series will help grow the profile of the game and some of the players involved.

After the heroics of the Ireland team in 2023, the first season has proved successful, and Netflix have given the green light to follow the 2024 edition of the Six Nations tournament. With most Six Nations betting sites tipping Ireland to win the Six Nations again, the next season should be as exciting as the first. Below we look at Bristol’s Ellis Genge, and the role he played in the first season of the series.

Ellis Genge

The eight-part series features exclusive insights into last year's Six Nations tournament and features segments on some players from the teams. As mentioned earlier, Bristol Bears prop forward Ellis Genge featured prominently in the series. As well as playing for the Bristol Bears, Genge has 58 caps for England, captaining the team in 2023, and is well known for his abrasive style and strong ball carrying skills.

Many rugby fans were taken back by revelations about his upbringing and struggles with imposter syndrome after joining the England set up. We also learned how he helped Italian opponent Sebastian Negri when he was knocked out during a game, providing one of many feel good moments of the series. These moments presented us with a different insight into the player from the personality that he displays during games.

Genge’s Path to Rugby

One of the inspiring stories that made Genge shine in the Netflix series is the journey he took from being a troubled youth in Bristol to representing England on the international stage. Ellis does not come from a traditional rugby background, stating that he mainly followed Bristol Rovers football team when he was younger as there was not much rugby where he was from. Things were not always easy, and his life could have gone down a different path if he did not find the sport.

From the time his uncle was committed to prison, Genge decided to turn to Rugby as an alternative to a rebellious youth lifestyle. He played in school and for England from under 17s to under 20s. After a brief stint with Bristol, he moved to Leicester Tigers where he gained over 100 caps and captained them to a Premiership title in 2022.

Genge recalls how he got into trouble with the law as a youth and is grateful that rugby helped him avoid the pitfalls that many of his peers fell into. He explains that he could have been a plumber like his father or joined the company of his peers and become a drug peddler. As a youth, Genge explained in the series how he was arrested several times and at times had problems with following rules.

However, Rugby instilled values and discipline in him. He learned to set barriers and follow a strict code of ethics.

Genge’s Struggle with Imposter Syndrome

In the series, Genge talked about his imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is associated with perfectionism and usually results in low self-esteem, stress, and anxiety. This was an issue for him especially after making his debut for England in 2016, as a lot of the players came from different backgrounds to Genge, and he felt that he did not fit the mould of an England player.

Even at 28 years of age, Genge still felt that he had to prove himself to his teammates. He constantly felt like he was the odd one out in the team. However, he overcame his fears and insecurities by acknowledging his strengths and identifying his weaknesses.

Genge Rescues Sebastian Negri

Another important part of the series that kept viewers glued to the screen was Genge’s revelations about the situation with Italy flanker Sebastian Negri during a game between England and Italy.

In their win over Italy in the 2022 edition of the tournament, Genge played a critical role in saving Negri. After coming onto the pitch after the second half, the Italian player was knocked unconscious after colliding with English lock Nick Isiekwe.

According to Genge, he heard him choking and tried to administer first aid. He first slapped him in the back to see how he would react. However, Negri continued choking. Genge rolled him onto his side to try to put him in the recovery position.

“I heard him choking so I gave him a slap to see if he reacted,” Genge said.

“He just carried on choking, so I didn’t know if he had swallowed his tongue – that’s why I tried to roll him on to his side.

“I’m not a master’s in medicine, but I’m pretty sure you are supposed to put them in the recovery position so I tried to do that. I was quickly ushered away by the medics, so I let them just carry on.

“It is horrible when that happens. I don’t know Seb very well personally, but a lot of my friends played at Hartpury College with him and apparently, he’s a lovely bloke.

“He’d just come on and he’s a big player for them and for that to happen wasn’t nice to see. I hope he’s well. I really do. I really don’t like seeing people being hurt like that.

“When you are on the pitch you think rugby is the be-all and end-all, but you are definitely brought back down to earth quickly and realise reality when something like that happens.”

At this point, the medic took over. After receiving medical treatment, he was taken from the pitch on a stretcher as a precaution. Negri lauded Genge for recognizing his condition and alerting the officials in time, and he later thanked him in person. Italy announced that Negri had sustained head trauma, and thanks to Genge's timely reaction to the situation, Negri's condition was not as bad as it could have been. This moment showed the true character of Ellis Genge and has helped grow his profile and give fans an understanding of the human side of this player.

Wrapping It Up

The Full Contact series on Netflix has proven to be a hit with rugby fans and casual viewers alike. Players such as Ellis Genge and Sebastian Negri have commented on the positive feedback they have received from fans online. Other players like Andrew Porter from Ireland were able to open up about mental health struggles, which has made the players more relatable to fans and brought a different perspective on the game to light. The Netflix team have been given even more access this season, and with everything still to play for, the last three games of the tournament will be played on the 16th of March. England still have a shot at the title and will be hoping to get one over on an underperforming French team, while Scotland will try to topple Ireland, and Wales will battle Italy for the wooden spoon! The final showdown should make for a dramatic end to the next series of Full Contact.