A new eight-part drama series executive produced by Tom Hardy alongside Ridley Scott and the show's creator Steven Knight. (Source: BBC)
A kids rugby union coach landed a top role in the latest Tom Hardy series after a chance meeting in a park - with the star's dog.
Danny Ligairi, 45, was training his under-14 team when a dog ran onto the field and stopped play four-and-a-half years ago.
He pettedthe golden Labrador to calm it down when he heard his excited players saying: "It's Tom Hardy," behind him.
Tom Hardy stars in the film, Mad Max - Fury Road.
The Mad Max and Legend star walked over to Danny and said: "Dogs know good people," before chatting with him for over an hour in Richmond Park, London.
Danny said they bonded over his father, Ilisoni Ligairi, a former SAS major and the pair kept in contact afterwards.
But the former Harlequins winger was stunned when the producers of Taboo called him in January this year asking him to audition.
Hardy put Fijian 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, the part-time university rugby coach landed the role and is one of the key characters who features in six out of eight episodes.
"They said: 'Get on a train to London, it's to do with Tom Hardy'. I thought they were joking.
Danny with Tom Hardy at the film wrap party. Photo / SWNS, Mega
"Three days later I was sat in my own trailer with security outside and people running around after me.
"It was surreal.
"The rumour on set was they were looking for this character and Tom turned around and said, 'I know this guy, ask him if he wants to do it' and that's what happened."
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 Saturday on BBC One in the UK.
Danny added: "It was mad because I really do have absolutely no acting experience.
"In the auditions it was very action based.
"Because of my rugby I was able to lift people up by their neck, throw people around, and had the discipline to move around correctly.
"People were asking me if I had a stuntman licence - I guess my sporting background made me a natural.
"I don't know what the part was originally but I think I developed it a lot. I was telling them how Polynesian's would be at the time, and told them I thought I should be a slave child.
Tom Hardy in the mini series, Taboo.
"I think the role probably grew around me, maybe it wasn't originally meant to be such a big talking part.
