Underwater rugby in Australia

Defensive tackle during an underwater rugby match in Sydney, Australia

Underwater rugby (UWR) has been played in Australia since 2007 and is currently played in all States of the country.

History

Underwater rugby has been played in Australia since 2007. Its introduction is attributed to individuals based at the University of New South Wales Underwater Club including a former member of the Colombian National Team.[1][2]

Domestic competition

As of August 2013, UWR is played at venues in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia. The first national tournament was held in Sydney as part of the 2013 Australian International Scuba & Underwater Sports Expo (ODEX) during September 2013.. This was followed in 2014 by the second National competition (n)Odex held in September in Ashfield NSW [3] which saw local team UNSW UWR wrestle the national title away from inaugural champions UWR TAS. The latest national competition was held in Brisbane at the Pan-Pacific Cup in April 2015: UNSW UWR won a second national title against locals Unidive Gauls UWR in a hard fought final [4]

International competition

As of August 2013, Australia had not yet taken part in any at world level competition but intends to do so in the near future.[5] However, Australia has played against New Zealand for the Ocean Hunter Trans Tasman Cup (OHTTC) in 2009, 2013 and 2014.[6] The National Australian male and female teams played friendly games against Singapore at the Pan Pacific Cup in April 2015.[7] The National Australian male and female UWR teams both took part in the CMAS Underwater Rugby World Cup for the first time in July/August 2015, finishing 11th and 7th respectively. [8]

Governance

The UWR domestic competition received recognition from the Australian Underwater Federation (AUF), the Australian affiliate of Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS), on 1 September 2012.[9][10] As of April 2015, a Commission has been established within the AUF under the name "Underwater Rugby Australia" to administer the sport.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "UNDERWATER RUGBY: The Greatest Sport You’ve Never Played". The UNSW Underwater Club. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "About". The UNSW Underwater Clu. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  3. ↑ http://www.nzuwr.org.nz/index.php/articles/47-nodex-2014
  4. ↑ https://underwaterrugbyaustralia.wordpress.com/events/
  5. ↑ Hoh, Amanda (3 September 2012). "What tries beneath: official nod for hidden depths of underwater". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Trans Tasman Ocean Hunter Cup Match". Australian International Scuba & Underwater Sports Expo. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  7. ↑ https://underwaterrugbyaustralia.wordpress.com/events/
  8. ↑ http://www.uwrworldchampionship.com/standings/
  9. ↑ "Underwater Rugby". Australian International Scuba & Underwater Sports Expo. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  10. ↑ Hoh, Amanda (3 September 2012). "What tries beneath: official nod for hidden depths of underwater". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  11. ↑ http://uwra.org.au/about-us/

External links


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