Pulling together to put on world championships

UNIVERSITY HOSTING INTERNATIONAL TUG OF WAR COMPETITION

- By LOUIS CORBETT

IT was once an Olympic sport until it fell out of favour in the 1920s. But tug of war is making a comeback, and the 2025 World Championships are heading to Nottingham.

Around 400 teams from around the world will descend on the University of Nottingham's Highfields Sports Complex in September.

The international competition, split across four days, will see a variety of weight classes and mixed teams and age groups battle it out to see who claims the top spot.

It's a sport that requires little introduction. Two teams of eight pull on opposite ends of a rope, with the aim of pulling the other team to their side.

There are some finer rules, including how the rope is gripped, touching the floor is forbidden and the “pullers” must wear specified footwear.

The first two days of the championships will pit clubs against each other to see who will go on to represent their country.