Do you want to get fitter? Gain more confidence in the water? and take part in one of the craziest, most fun sports you can imagine? – All at the same time!!!! Well then, Underwater Rugby could be for you!

At our last club meeting we had Tony Hafoka (a past AUUC President) come and present this exciting new sport to us. Slightly to my surprise we had 10 AUUC members jump at the opportunity, and we attended our first game last night. All I can say is that it is heaps of fun and quite hard work!!! You just have to come along and give it a try.

Here is a little bit of info about the game:

The game: Underwater Rugby is an unusual sport in that both the ball and the players move in 3-dimensions. It is being played 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 (with weight-belts in it to keep it on the bottom).
Is it rough?: It is physical rather than rough. It is a contact sport but you are swimming rather than running so it is not a high-impact sport. It is being played in mixed teams which usually seem to have a couple of women on each team. There are also 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.

The details:

Where: West Wave, Alderman Drive, Henderson.

When: 7:45pm Sunday nights. The dive well is booked 8-9pm (but NOT Sunday 21st June).

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

Who to contact: Mike at uwrugby@akunidive.com, or Tony Hafoka mobile: 021 638 331 or Shalimar Axford mobile: 0275 487 246.

What do you wear?: togs, mask, snorkel, fins, water polo cap (blue or white for teams). Caps will be sorted out for people coming along to try the sport. It is best if you can use full foot fins. The club has a few sets of these, and some of the other players may be able to organise some if you advise us in advance.

Get into it!

Filed under: Club News, Mike, Underwater Rugby