Rugby Fives
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Rugby Fives is a handball game, similar to squash, played in an enclosed court.
The game is played as singles or doubles, the aim being to hit the ball above a "bar" across the front wall in such a way as the opposition cannot return it before a second bounce. Unlike Eton Fives, the court has a back wall. The dimensions of the court are 28 feet long and 18 feet wide. The ball is slightly larger than a golf ball, leather-coated and hard. Players wear leather padded gloves on both hands, with which they hit the ball. The court is slightly smaller than a squash court and the floor is concrete so that the ball will bounce.
How to play Either singles or doubles can be played. Doubles scoring is different from that in singles, and also more complicated. In singles only the receiver can score. If you win the rally (it can't bounce twice or hit the 'bar') then you either score a point or you receive the other player's serve so you are in a position to score points. Games are played either to 11 or 15, normally agreed before the game commences. If the score is 10-10 then you play to 12 but no further (in tennis you have to win by 2 points in a tie-break which can go on for along time).
Tournaments: There are numerous championships, notably the Rugby Fives Singles Open championship (The Jesters' Cup) and the open doubles. Other events include schools (Under 13 singles and doubles, Under 14 singles and doubles, Colts singles and doubles [U16], Open singles and doubles [U18]), university, age-group, Winchester and (recently) ladies championships. Peter Hanton
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
- Rugby Fives Association (UK) - Includes information on where Rugby Fives can be played.
