No Tears on the Field follows female rugby players from Southern and Clifton Rugby Clubs over a season in Taranaki. Born and raised in Taranaki herself, award-winning documentary producer and director Lisa Burd (The Pinkies are Back, Monterey) delves into the worlds of players Kate Thomson, Maddison Davison, Mereana Anderson and Phoenix Fraser as they juggle their passion for the game with their personal lives, and what it means to be a woman in rugby. With the stunning backdrop and iconic scenes of Taranaki, the film premiered at the 20th Anniversary Doc Edge Festival, with a release in New Zealand cinemas in March 2026.
Three things that you need to play; it's safety, it's technique, and it's grunt. And I've got all of them!– Kate Thomson, Southern RC player at the start of this trailer
Made with the support of the Feature Film Finishing Grant from The New Zealand Film Commission Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga
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