A group of us have started playing Underwater Rugby in Auckland.  Yes, it is a bizarre sport but it is fun and a good way to get some time in the water - increasing bottom-time etc.

 

 

Read on if you are interested:

Underwater Rugby has been around for several years now – mostly in Europe I believe although I don’t know when it was first played.  A couple of the guys I play underwater hockey with had played it once or twice overseas and thought they would have a crack at getting it going in NZ.  It is governed internationally by CMAS who have published 40 or 50 pages of rules!

In NZ (Auckland) it has been going for 3 weeks now so we are all learning tactics etc.  At this stage most of the people playing are from the Fins underwater hockey club. 

Where: West Wave, Alderman Drive, Henderson

When:  7:45 pm Sunday nights.  We have the dive well booked from 8 pm to 9 pm.  (but NOT Sunday 7^th September as a large group of us will be going to Paihia for the Russell to Paihia Snorkel/Scuba Race that weekend)

Cost:  First night free, $10 per night after that.

Who to contact:  PM me if you want more info / phone numbers etc.

What do you wear?: togs, mask, snorkel, fins, water polo cap (blue or white for teams.  We will be able to sort out caps for people coming along to try the sport)

The game:

Underwater Rugby is an unusual sport in that both the ball and the players move in 3-dimensions.  We are playing it in the dive well at Henderson which is 5m deep.  The ball is slightly negatively buoyant so it sinks if you let it go (it is filled with heavily salted water).  There are 6 players in the water in each team (with subs waiting on the side of the pool – you can sub at any time).

DO NOT:

• Grab masks / snorkels / fins / togs
• Get rough – hit people etc.!
• Hold someone after they have let go of the ball (although it is a legitimate tactic to hold someone under UNTIL they let go of the ball).
• Grab someone who doesn’t have the ball
• Lift the ball above the surface of the water

If someone is swimming with the ball you can grab them and/or the ball but you cannot grab masks, snorkels, fins, togs.  If you have the ball you CAN fend someone off.  You can also push / lift someone off the goal

How do you score?:  Place the ball completely inside the goal – there is one at each end of the pool. The goal is a bin about twice the size of an office rubbish-bin (we are putting weight-belts in to keep them on the bottom).

Is it rough?  I would classify it as physical rather than rough.  It is a contact sport but you are swimming rather than running so it is not a high-impact sport.  We are playing in mixed teams and usually seem to have a couple of women on each team.  We also have a few secondary school kids playing and some old codgers in their 50s so it suits a wide range of people – as long as they are comfortable in fins, mask and snorkel.

 

For those interested - PM me if you are going to come along so we know roughly how many to expect.

 

Cheers

 

Although thinking of them reminded me of an underwater hockey tournament a few years ago (late '80s or early '90s) when one of the womens teams turned up with white togs.  For some strange reason there games had more spectators than usual??

 

If I admitted to playing in the long stick days, I would be well and truely showing my age. We had just converted to short stick when I started.

 

The real difference between now and back then was those that played were solidly built scuba divers not lean mean fit swimming sardines...

A couple of the guys spent last weekend in Sydney.  They filled the weekend up with a party or two, playing UW Rugby, kayaking around Sydney Harbour and some UW Hockey.

 

They also managed to pick up a few UW Rugby tips from people who have been playing for a while (including one guy who has played for the Columbian national UW Rugby team - don't mess with the Columbians!)  One thing that soon became obvious was that we were playing a more physical game here in Auckland ...

 

The upshot of this is that we will have a go at getting the Aussies over here in a few months for a "Bledisloe Cup" competition.

 

So ...

If you want to try a new sport AND want to have a crack at some Aussies - come and give UW Rugby a go.

A large number of the "regular" players will be away this weekend doing the Russell to Paihia snorkel / Scuba race so there will be no underwater rugby this Sunday.  We will be back playing again on 14 September.

 

If you are going to R2P - keep an eye out for our teams - one in a centre console RIB and the other in a white CSB Huntsman Sport (both with 115hp outboards).

 

And, if you are staying at the Bay Adventurer - appologies in advance for any disturbance!  (there will be around 20 in our group).

I vomited in my mouth when JRDO cracked out his zebra-print speedos, but apart from that it was a good way to spend a sunday eve.

 

I think the "zebra-print speedos" might have been caught on film!  I will get Black Adder (who filmed some of last nights game) to burn a copy to CD, JRDO can autograph the CD and give it to you as a collectors item!  Could even print a wall poster pic for you!

 

 

You should be alright then Tony!

It would be great to get something going in the capital.  The key is a 3m or deeper pool (bottom doesn't have to be flat).  I will PM you my contact details and we can discuss the logisitics if you want.

Yeah right Keith - I still have a way to go to my 50s !  (unlike you)

 

Come down and have a go before you get your RA gun in from SA.  Get those old legs and lungs working - you will need some time in the water before summer hits properly!  (and no, I don't want to see you in white budgie smugglers)

 

Its been a looooooonnnnnnnngggggg time since you have been in the water! (how many years??)

 

 

Funnily enough he only has 2 "action photos", both of which featureof certain people in zebra-print togs and skins - I can post them here later today (or not - if you guys DON'T want to see them!)

 

Herby - I can print the Zebra-print special in colour on A3 for you ... 

Just noted LJs new signature:  "Wish I had zebra print speedos" 

 

Here they are:

 

 

 

The flash picked up all the bubbles and other crp in the water so the quality is questionable ...

 

Herby is bringing his high def video cam along on Sunday so it will be interesting to see the results from that.

 

Normal bookings resume from Sunday 2 November.

(West Wave, Alderman Drive, Henderson - meet by the dive well at 7:45 pm, pool booked from 8pm - 9pm).

 

Herby,

I am looking forward to seeing the video you shot on Sunday (both once the AUT students have finished editing it into their piece and the "raw" footage).  I got a text from them earlier saying they were really pleased but were having trouble getting the video you shot off the tape?

 

Emma, Nora and Angela were there and (in front of the camera) saying nice things about  playing with the boys so it might even be a good recruitment tool ...

 

We are organising an Underwater Rugby tournament with the Australians sending a team over. 

When:  28 March 2009 

Where: West Wave Aquatic Centre, Henderson, Auckland. 

 

Format: Round-robin, semis and final followed by a Test Match with the best kiwis taking on the Australians.

 

Let me know if you want to have a crack at the Aussies and come along on Sunday nights (meet at 7:45 pm by the dive well.  The pool is booked from 8 pm - 9 pm).

 

This is great training for spear fishing (beats following a line along the bottom of a pool)!

 

Note that we are NOT playing on Sunday 8 Feb as it is a long weekend!

 

Send me a PM if you are going to come along and I will keep an eye out for you.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKFJirV5voE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKFJirV5voE

 

Watch in high quality, it makes a heap of difference

 

Great vid & interesting to see the laddesses doing so well.

The vid is great - thanks.  Can I get a copy on DVD?  (I am still doing the odd promotional thing at clubs etc.)  The slow-mo and fast bits make it interesting ...

 

KeriBOI,

Yep, the chicks are hardcore and really get stuck in!

 

Tintanic, there is a blurb on the basic rules at the start of the thread 

 

BTW - we have just started playing again (Sundays, 8pm at West wave, Henderson) and are getting teams organised for the tournament with the Aussies on 28 March.

 

We will finish the tournament with a "test" against the Aussies - this would have to be the best opportunity to play for NZ   so PM me if you want to give it a go (and no, I think I will leave the seletion of the NZ team to someone else!)

 

We are continuing to play regularly on Sunday nights (8 pm at West Wave, Henderson) and getting organised for the tournament on 28 March. 

 

The tournament will now be held in Hamilton (Te Rapa) because of double bookings for West Wave.

 

The Aussies are sending 11 players over.

 

When: Saturday 28 March. middday to 4:30 pm

Where: Waterworld, Te Rapa, Hamilton

 

PM me if you want more info and/or are interested in coming along to play.

We will have around 35 players in four teams competing in the tournament including one team from Australia and 2 players visting from Europe who have altered their travel schedule to fit the tournament in.

 

The tournament will conclude with the best NZ players coming together to play in a test match against Australia.  Ocean Hunter have helped us out and are providing a great Cup for the Trans-Tasman test match.  The "Ocean Hunter Cup" will be up for grabs whenever NZ and Australia play.

 

With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work I will be able to post pictures of the right team holding the Ocean Hunter Cup next week!