Rugby ace out to turn boys into proud men

IN an age where the definition and understanding of what makes a man is under scrutiny, a new RTÉ series seeks to address the issue next week.

Man Up? is a unique coming-of-age sports documentary presented by rugby superstar Jordan Conroy, who acts as mentor, friend, brother and father figure to ten male teenage participants.

Jordan attempts to guide his charges using his own personal life experience to gain a new and modern understanding of what it is to be a man.

The series starts on RTÉ2 on Monday at 5.30pm, and its host, Jordan Conroy, of Tullamore, is well qualified, as a superstar for Ireland’s national rugby sevens team, but who is no stranger to turmoil in his personal life.

From helping his mother escape an abusive relationship in Germany when he was still a child, to fighting his own inner demons through adolescence, Jordan has been through a lot and come out the other side as a naturally warm and charismatic man with a true understanding of how difficult life can be.

In fact, the name of the series is a tongue-in-cheek reference to toxic masculinity, and a rebuttal to the exhortation to ‘man up’.

The series’ participants are ten teenage boys aged 12-14 who have never met before and who have very different personalities and come from different socio-economic backgrounds, classes and cultures.

Some are into sports and martial arts, others into gaming and music, still others prefer drama and philosophy, and more besides.

Each of them faces their own challenges in everyday life, such as racism, bullying, ADHD, dyslexia, body image difficulties, and parental separation.

The one thing they all have in common is their readiness to try something new and their honesty and openness.

In the first episode, having met awkwardly for the first time, Jordon outlines to them his plan for the next few weeks. After their initial shock, they start to open up about alien subjects like emotions and feelings.

Underscored by their training regime, each boy begins their very personal journey as they lay out their fears and concerns about being men in the 21st century.

Among the special guests giving out advice in the series are Paralympian table tennis player Colin Judge, boxer Jack Marley, Karen Byrne from Dancing With The Stars, recently retired Shelbourne Captain Luke Byrne, gamer Peter ‘Pacbull’ Bull, rower Niall O’Toole, Gaelic footballer Kevin McManamon, and rugby sevens player and Olympian Bryan Mollen.