Underwater Rugby is a contact sport that is played underwater in an artificial pool. The sport has many similarities with rugby. It's a team sport where two teams try to score the maximum by attempting higher goals to the opponent's net.
The sport holds its ancient roots from Germany where the German diving clubs practised it during the training sessions in the 1960s. The Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) is the highest governing body for underwater rugby which also hosts the World Championships.
Objective
The objective is to score the maximum goals with the aid of a playing ball. They have to place the balls in the net of the opposing players, defended by their Goalie. All the 6 players in the team ditch the ball against the opposing team by using the playing ball filled with saltwater while they defend their goal area.
The players are required to perform the entire match underwater in teams and try to score higher points than the other team.
Usually, the players in each team are positioned either as forward, defender or as a goalie.
History of Underwater Rugby
Ludwig von Bersuda developed the sport of underwater rugby. He was a member of the German Underwater Club (DUC) and suggested the idea of using the ball filled with saltwater than the air-filled ball.
This saltwater ball has a higher density. Hence, it won't float on the surface. Later, Dr. Franz Josef Grimmeisen pointed out of using the idea of underwater rugby as a competitive sport. He assisted the German Lifeguard Association (DLRG) and together organized the first formal competition of underwater rugby on 4th October 1964.
With Grimmeisen's encouraging spirit, underwater hockey started earning popularity. He promoted the sport, and with the aid of DUC Mulheim/Ruhr, developed the official rule book of underwater rugby.
This rulebook was regarded as the Battle for the Golden Ball, created in Hallenbad Sued which premiered in 1965. Since then, the annual tournament is organized. After a short article published in the 1965 L'Equipe magazine, the Scandinavian countries became the primary places where the game has been played.
In 1973, an open demonstration of the sport was presented in Denmark and later in Finland, Belgium and Vienna in 1975, 1973 and 1979, respectively. In 1972, the German Championship of underwater rugby was organized by the recognition of the Union of German Sport Divers (VDST).
In 1978, underwater rugby was recognized by the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS). The same year, the first-ever European Championship organized in the Malmo, Sweden and 1980 the first World Championship of underwater rugby was held.
