Former Ireland rugby international Donncha O’Callaghan will return to competition in a new six-part RTÉ adventure series beginning on Sunday evening.
Donncha’s Away Games pairs O’Callaghan with a different celebrity in each episode, then sends them abroad to compete in unusual sporting and cultural challenges.
The guest list includes two-time Olympic boxing champion Kellie Harrington, Ireland Rugby Sevens international Jordan Conroy, former Ireland rugby player Tommy Bowe, comedian Emma Doran, actor Hilary Rose and Dancing with the Stars judge Oti Mabuse.
The opening episode sees O’Callaghan and Harrington travel to Iceland to compete in Glíma wrestling, the country’s oldest traditional sport.
Later programmes will feature Greek folk dancing with Mabuse, the Highland Games with Conroy, the Wife-Carrying World Championship with Doran, Belgium’s International Bathtub Regatta with Bowe and a combination of paella making and La Tomatina with Rose.
“I’ve worn the Irish jersey in massive stadiums, but nothing prepares you for these unusual contests,” said O’Callaghan.
“It’s about pride, massive laughs and seeing how we cope when thrown completely out of our comfort zone.”
Donncha’s Away Games begins at 7.30 pm on Sunday, September 20, on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
Sport for Business Perspective
The series demonstrates how sporting personalities can carry audience recognition into entertainment, travel and factual programming.
O’Callaghan’s profile has already moved successfully from elite rugby into family entertainment through Ireland’s Fittest Family. Pairing him with athletes and entertainment figures gives RTÉ a format that can reach viewers beyond the traditional sports audience.
It also gives athletes such as Kellie Harrington and Jordan Conroy opportunities to build their public profiles outside competition. That broader recognition can add to their long-term appeal for broadcasters, sponsors and commercial partners.
The combination of sport, humour, travel and recognisable personalities provides RTÉ with a Sunday night format that can work both in a scheduled television slot and as clips distributed through RTÉ Player and social media.
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Image Credit: RTÉ
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