Underwater rugby in Australia
Underwater rugby (UWR) has been played in Australia since 2007 and as of 2016 is played in every State and the Australian Capital Territory.
History
[edit]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
[edit]As of 2016, UWR is played at venues in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.[3] The first national tournament was held in Sydney as part of the 2013 Australian International Scuba & Underwater Sports Expo (ODEX) during September 2013.[citation needed]. This was followed in 2014 by the second National competition (n)Odex held in September in Ashfield NSW [4] which saw local team UNSW UWR wrestle the national title away from inaugural champions UWR TAS. The next 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 [5]
International competition
[edit]As of 2015, Australia has competed in third events at international level. Australia has played against New Zealand for the Ocean Hunter Trans Tasman Cup (OHTTC) in 2009, 2013 and 2014.[6] The Australian male and female national teams played friendly games against Singapore at the Pan Pacific Cup in April 2015.[7] The Australian male and female national teams played for the first time in a world championship event at the 10th Underwater Rugby World Championships held in Cali, Colombia during July and August 2015, finishing 11th and 7th respectively.[8]
Governance
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ "UNDERWATER RUGBY: The Greatest Sport You've Never Played". The UNSW Underwater Club. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- ^ "About". The UNSW Underwater Clu. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- ^ "Playing, Get in touch with your local club". Underwater Rugby Australia. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ "(n)ODEX 2014 - Sydney". www.nzuwr.org.nz. Archived from the original on 2015-01-13.
- ^ Events | Underwater Rugby Australia
- ^ "Trans Tasman Ocean Hunter Cup Match". Australian International Scuba & Underwater Sports Expo. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- ^ "Events; Nationals 2015 (Pan Pacific Cup)". Underwater Rugby Australia. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ "Cali Colombia 2015 Standings". Colombia Underwater Federation. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ "Underwater Rugby". Australian International Scuba & Underwater Sports Expo. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- ^ Hoh, Amanda (3 September 2012). "What tries beneath: official nod for hidden depths of underwater". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- ^ UWRA Commission — UWRA - Underwater Rugby Australia - Official website of the Australian Underwater Rugby Commission