Underwater rugby

Underwater Rugby (UWR) is the only sport in which the players can move in three dimensions.

UWR has very little in common with “normal” Rugby except for the name. It is quite a young sport that has its origin in physical fitness training of German diving clubs. It is played in a pool with a depth of 3.5m to 5m and the goals (heavy metal buckets with a diameter of about 40cm) are at the bottom of the pool. Two teams (blue and white), each with six players (plus five substitutes), try to score a goal by sending the slightly negatively buoyant ball (filled with saltwater) into the opponents’ goal. It is a fast and exhausting game therefore the subs replace their players on the fly.

The game always takes place under water and the ball must not leave the water. The ball can be passed (in any direction) to the other players. It “flies” about 2m or 3m before it stops due to the water resistance. This makes good tactics and good (three dimensional) positioning essential. The players can use different abilities. Strength, speed, mobility or simply low consumption of oxygen are all similarly important.

Not very many people play underwaterrugby, because of this UWR is often played in mixed teams where the female players do not have (m)any disadvantages over their male team mates.

But when the going gets tough - and underwaterrugby is played on the highest levels - the females dont stand a chance. Any good male team with 4-5 players will beat any female-team.

Federations

Like underwater hockey, underwater rugby is controlled by CMAS, the World Underwater Federation.

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Federations

See also