In the land of the oval, rugby is also played underwater! Every Wednesday evening, a dozen of them, men and women, compete in underwater rugby games at the Albin-Minville swimming pool, in the Bellefontaine district in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne).
A funny sport, a mixture of basketball and rugby but in apnea and underwater, from Germany and which made its appearance in the Pink City in 2017, under the impetus of enthusiasts. In the city of Rouge et Noir, the team called Stade Toulousain sousaquatique depends on the Stade Toulousain Nautique association. Once the mask, the snorkel, the fins and the protective helmet put on, the players must pass a ball filled with salt water, 2 kg heavy, to score in a kind of basketball hoops located at the ends of the field.
“What’s cool is that it plays out in three dimensions. We can make passes in all directions, details Laurianne Palin, the coach of the Toulouse team. In the water, everything is cushioned, which allows the sport to be mixed: even a woman can clear the goalkeeper! That said, it’s still a contact sport and it’s physical. The main thing is to be comfortable in the water ”.
In the pool, two teams face off, six against six, divided into two forwards, two defenders and two goalkeepers. Underwater, the ball passes from hand to hand as passes between players and tackles, everyone knowing where to stand to ensure the strategy in place. The objective is to slide the ball into the opponent’s basket placed at the bottom of the water.
“The impression of falling back into childhood”
For Thomas, who previously practiced swimming and team sports, “Underwater rugby is fun, giving the impression of falling back into childhood when you are at the bottom of the water. I did water polo and I didn’t like the competitive side. Here, we take pleasure, while being tactical to relay the colleague at his post when he has no air ”. Camille, one of the last to arrive at the club, was introduced to the sport through a colleague. “The first time I came, I thought I would never make it! But in fact, it is not necessary to be a good swimmer, assures this thirty-something. I enjoy each session more and more and I learn a lot ”.
To attract new players to this original sport, the Toulousain underwater stadium offers introductory sessions. The club hopes to attract new talent to participate in the competitions. Five other underwater rugby clubs exist in France, in Bordeaux, Albi, Toulouse, Paris and Puy-l’Évêque.
