Rugby Redemption: Inside Argentina's Prison Transformation

Eduardo 'Coco' Oderigo, an Argentine criminal clerk and former rugby player, used rugby to rehabilitate inmates, significantly reducing recidivism. His initiative inspired a Disney+ series, highlighting the impact of sport in Argentine prisons, and expanded to include education and job opportunities for inmates.

Former rugby player and Argentine criminal clerk Eduardo "Coco" Oderigo has found an innovative way to aid prisoner rehabilitation through rugby. By merging his passion for law and sport, he created a program that remarkably lowered recidivism rates.

Initially facing skepticism from prison officials, Oderigo's program proved successful, cutting the re-offending rate to 5% compared to the usual 65%. The initiative's success is not merely in reducing relapse rates but also in sparing potential victims from future crimes.

Premiering Wednesday on Disney+, the series "Spartans: A True Story" chronicles this initiative. Named after the Espartanos, the first prison team formed, rugby now reaches 44 Argentine prisons, helping inmates with reintegration through sport and providing links to education and job opportunities.