REVIEW | NO SIDE MANAGER

I never thought my first live-action Japanese sports drama would be about rugby of all things. I barely know much about the sport—other than the fact that it’s basically American football without all the heavy armor—and yet No Side Manager managed to pull me in.

The story follows a man who suddenly becomes his company’s rugby general manager. But his job doesn’t stop with building a winning team; he also has to juggle corporate headaches like protests, financial struggles, and even espionage. What makes it more interesting is that many of his rugby players are also employees, so the overlap of work and play feels chaotic yet grounded.

Funny enough, the lead character looks a lot like the main villain in Hot Stove League, the Korean drama about an unconventional baseball manager. If you’ve seen Hot Stove League, then you already have a feel for No Side Manager—except this one leans more on heart than pure strategy. The “Moneyball” element isn’t as heavily pushed here, and instead you get a story about a man trying to win by believing in his people.

One thing I really enjoyed is how the show introduced me to rugby terms like ruck, jackal, jersey numbers, and the scoring system. It even made me think back to when the Philippine Volcanoes had their brief moment of fame during the same era as the Azkals. As of August 18, 2025, the Philippines is ranked 53rd in the men’s World Rugby Union standings, with the women at 60th. In Asia, Japan leads the pack, followed by Hong Kong China, Korea, and the UAE—all ahead of the Philippines.

I can’t say No Side Manager is the best Asian sports drama I’ve ever seen—that crown still belongs to anime—but if you’re looking for a way to digest rugby in a heartfelt and entertaining way, this drama is worth checking out.