Underwater rugby is an exhilarating and dynamic sport that combines elements of rugby, water polo, and diving. Played in a pool or similar underwater environment, this niche sport challenges its participants to showcase their skills, stamina, and strategic thinking while entirely submerged. With its unique combination of athleticism and teamwork, underwater rugby has gained popularity among water sports enthusiasts around the world.

The objective of underwater rugby is to score goals by placing a water-filled ball in the opposing team's goal. Each team consists of six players, with six additional substitutes on the sidelines. Players wear snorkels, fins, masks, and protective gear, allowing them to navigate underwater and execute intricate maneuvers.

One of the distinctive features of underwater rugby is the fact that it is played in three dimensions. Unlike its land-based cousin, the game not only occurs horizontally but also vertically, as players can move up, down, and across the water column. This adds a unique aspect of challenge and excitement, as players must master the art of maneuvering in a three-dimensional underwater environment.

Teams employ a combination of swimming, diving, and passing techniques to score goals. Players must remain underwater at all times, except when retrieving a breath of air through their snorkels. The ball can be passed underwater between teammates and can be thrown or pushed into the goal. Players use their entire body to protect the ball from the opposing team, adding an element of physicality to the game.

PLAYING AREA

Underwater rugby is played in a deep pool (3.5 - 5 metres in depth), in a rectangular court between 12 - 18 metres in length and 8 - 12 metres in width. In Europe, the deep ends of lap pools are usually suitable for underwater rugby, however in Australia, we usually play in diving pools, and use specially-constructed walls to mitigate the sloped walls prevalent in many Australian diving pools.

PLAYERS

Six players on two teams are in the water, with up to six substitutes on the exchange bench who can swap with another player at any time in the game, as many times as desired.

The objective for the six players in the water is to take the saltwater-filled rubber ball and score in the opposing team's basket, and defend their own goal against the opposition's attack.

There are three player positions in underwater rugby: forward, defender (or back) and goalie (or goalkeeper). Each position is unique and requires a specific set of skills. The forward's aim is to exploit opportunities to gain possession of the ball, and lead the attack on the opposition's basket. During a defensive play, the defender sits in front of the basket and aims to prevent the opposition from approaching the goal. The goalie lies on top of the basket to block open attacks on the goal.

GAMEPLAY AND RULES

A game usually lasts for 10-15 minutes per half (depending on individual tournament rules), and each team can request one sixty-second time-out per half.

There are three referees - one on the edge of the pool officiating time and surface play (deck referee), one on scuba observing bottom of pool play, and one freedive referee who observes the game and liaises with the deck referee. The referees have buzzers which produce signals that are audible to players both underwater and on the surface.

The rules of underwater rugby are fairly simple. The player with possession of the ball is allowed to attack any other player, but other players may only attack the player with possession of the ball. Attacking around the neck and the head, twisting limbs, kicking and hitting are not allowed, and are punishable if it occurs.