Fiji born, Kids rugby union coach, Danny Ligairi has landed a top role in actor and producer Tom Hardy’s new series after meeting the star’s dog in a park in London.
45-year-old Danny who is the son of Ilisoni Ligairi was training his under‑14 team when a dog ran onto the field and stopped play four‑and‑a‑half years ago.
He petted the golden Labrador to calm it down when he heard his excited players saying: "It's Tom Hardy," behind him.
According to a NZ Herald report, the Mad Max and Legend star walked over to Danny and said that dogs know good people, before chatting with him for over an hour at Richmond Park in London.
Danny says they bonded over his father, Ilisoni Ligairi, a former SAS major and the pair kept in contact afterwards.
But, Danny who is a former Harlequins winger was stunned when the producers of Taboo called him in January asking him to audition.
Hardy had put Danny forward for the part of a Polynesian character in the Ridley Scott drama about the East India Trading Company set in the 1800s.
Despite having no previous acting experience, Danny landed the role and is one of the key characters who features in six out of eight episodes.
He says this dog ran on the field and started running round, so he thought the quickest way to calm it down would be to stroke him.
Danny Ligairi says he was with the dog when all the team started saying: 'It's Tom Hardy, it's Tom Hardy.'
Ligairi said he then asked who they were talking about and thought they meant it’s rugby player, Tom Croft.
In reply the team said that it’s the Bane from Batman.
Danny says Tom Hardy asked him loads of questions and went away and did some research, called him back and said that his dad is a legend.
He says out of the blue he got a call in January from the Taboo producers who said get on a train to London as it's to do with Tom Hardy.
Danny, who has set up kids rugby camps since 1993 and was head‑hunted to coach the Richmond junior side in 2011, plays a character called Martinez.
He is seen rowing through underground tunnels and taking part in dramatic fight scenes in the series which starts next Sunday on BBC One in the UK.
Danny says it was mad because he really does not has acting experience.
He says because of his rugby, he was able to lift people up by their neck, throw people around, and had the discipline to move around correctly.
Danny says people were asking him if he had a stuntman licence ‑ and he guessed that his sporting background made him a natural.
Meanwhile, at a wrap party, Tom Hardy gave Danny a hug and said: 'See you on the other side, your life is about to change.'
Source: NZ Herald
