Underwater rugby
Underwater rugby match in Norway. | |
| Highest governing body | CMAS |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | UWR |
| First played | 1961, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | yes |
| Team members | 12 (6 in play) |
| Mixed-sex | Yes, except at elite levels |
| Type | Aquatic |
| Equipment | diving mask, snorkel, fins, water polo cap. |
| Venue | Swimming pool |
Underwater Rugby (UWR) is an underwater team sport in which two teams compete to deliver a negatively buoyant ball into the opponents’ goal at the bottom of a swimming pool. It originated from physical fitness training programs in German diving clubs during the early 1960s. Recognized by the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) in 1978, it was first played in a world championship in 1980. The sport has little in common with rugby football, except for its name.