No Tears on the Field

We all know the Black Ferns, the current Women’s World Rugby champions, but where did it all start for these elite athletes? 

They started out playing grassroots rugby on a scrappy paddock somewhere.

Taranaki-based award-winning filmmaker Lisa Burd takes us back to the heart and start of women’s rugby with her new documentary No Tears on The Field.

It is more than rugby, it’s a film about resilience and authenticity at its best - young women daring to dream big but taken out by curveballs that leave you gasping, laughing, but ultimately leaving you feeling anything is possible.
With a season of Taranaki grassroots rugby as its backdrop, the film follows four young women and their quest for the championship trophy and personal success on and off the field.

It’s a raw and up-close look at women’s rugby and its competitive beginnings. Rugby is the vehicle to tell our characters’ stories and dreams. And they are as authentic as you can get and will resonate with young women everywhere. This is a universal and global story.

No Tears on the Field is Lisa Burd's fifth feature documentary. Her second film, Monterey, earned her the Emerging Filmmaker award at DocEdge, and her most recent work, The Pinkies Are Back, about a breast cancer survivor dragon boat team, continues to screen internationally. Known for her intuitive interviewing style and camera work, Lisa filmed much of No Tears on the Field herself, capturing genuine moments from her unique viewpoint. Lisa has teamed up with a dedicated bunch, from seasoned industry professionals to up-and-coming young creatives.

MEET THE TEAM

• Producer/director/writer: Lisa Burd
• Producers: Alex Lee and Bernadette Courtney
• Line Producer: Juliet Condon
• Editors: Sam Scannell, Francis Glenday
• DOP: Rhys Duncan, Sam Scannell
• Camera: Lisa Burd, Troy Duncan, Andy Jackson, Andy Thompson, Scottie McKinnon, Bernadette Courtney, Maihora Rangihaeata, Regan Goodin, Emma Andrews
• Research/social: Emma Andrews, Bernadette Courtney
• Māori guidance: Anaru Wilkie, Tuteri Rangihaeata, WAHA The Māori Creative Agency

This film has been self-funded, supplemented with donations from the Taranaki Community Rugby Trust and some private individuals. Their generosity has enabled us to pay camera crews and editors for the work completed so far.

But we need $30,000 to complete the post-production of the film. Funds will go towards the costs of:

- Colour grading

- Sound mixing

- Archival footage

- Shot pick-ups

- Music licensing
 

We have gone as far as we can and now need to hand it over to the specialists to finish. We want to make the best and most high quality film we can.

No Tears on the Field is a character-driven full-length documentary of 80 minutes for full theatrical release. The film was pitched to the 2024 DocEdge Pitch Festival and was recently invited to an invitation-only pitch event at the Maritime Silk Road International Film Festival in Fuzhou, China. It was one of just 7 international films handpicked to pitch.
 

This film will have a lasting impact and celebrate the legacy of Taranaki women’s grassroots rugby across the world. 

Our doco is raw and original. From the outset we have aimed to get up close to our four main characters in both intimate and authentic interviews. These young women talk about the issues and fears they face - shared by young women around the world -  and the friendships, support, and camaraderie found on and off the field. And of course their absolute passion for rugby.

Our story is told against the spiritual and cinematic backdrop of Mt Taranaki - the Maunga - which wraps itself around these rural and isolated clubs.

Two of the top teams are heading towards a grudge-match final. Last season, Southern snatched the title in the dying minutes from Clifton. Can they do it again? And what of the new kids on the block, Tukupa, a team being smashed at the scoreline but with high ambition?

Taranaki, where competitive women’s rugby was kick-started, has produced rugby superstars on the world sporting stage. Sevens superstar Michaela Blyde and her mum, former Black Fern Cherry, share their memories of playing at Clifton along with Vicky Dombroski, still the only woman to coach the Black Ferns.

And in true Lisa Burd style, it is a story packed with humour.
 

We aim to release the film ahead of this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England in August/September.

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

This is more than a sports doc; it's a story of identity, resilience, and courage, as we discover what drives our Taranaki wāhine to lace up their boots each week and get out on the field. The live-action footage and cinematic visuals capture a moment in history, creating a film that promises a lasting cultural impact, and showcases the very heart of women's rugby in Aotearoa with the world.

SUPPORTING YOUNG CREATIVES

Our film crew includes several young creatives starting their documentary-making careers. Emma Andrews, an intern at RNZ, has been deeply involved in the film's research and has played for many of the Taranaki clubs featured. Troy Duncan is a young videographer working on a feature-length film for the first time, and Waha Creative camera interns, Maihora Rangihaeata and Regan Goodin.