Underwater rugby taking off
It’s rugby, but not as we know it. The sport of underwater rugby is gaining traction in Wellington, and New Zealand, thanks to a dedicated group of players and administrators.
Ascot Park’s Marcus Walker is chairman of the Wellington Underwater Rugby Association and secretary of the national body. The former underwater hockey player said he wanted to try something different.
‘‘I didn’t know where it was going to go and I ended up loving it,’’ the 25-year-old said. ‘‘It’s just so different to anything I’ve ever done. It increases confidence in the water and it’s a great bunch of people.’’
He said it had been tough to get people interested, largely because of the 9pm Monday night trainings in Kilbirnie, but he was confident the sport would grow.
The New Zealand underwater rugby team recently contested the Australian state championships and performed well, he said.
The sport bears no likeness to rugby and was not developed in England, like its grass- based counterpart. Underwater rugby had its origins in Germany.
The two codes do share one trait, however: contact. Walker loves it.
‘‘It can get rough and I don’t mind that. I’m a goal-hungry forward, so I’m a bit more aggressive, but you do need defensive players who are a bit calmer,’’ he said.
He still has bruises from the tournament in Australia, but said underwater rugby was a brilliant way to keep fit.
‘‘I’m shattered after a decent game and the training [in the gym and pool] is up there. You’re doing exercise to increase the lung capacity so you can stay under for longer.’’
Underwater rugby has about 60 members in Auckland and Wellington and there was a push to market the sport more aggressively, Walker said.
He hoped there would be a New Zealand team at the world championships in Colombia in July.