BCN Cup underwater rugby returns to Montjuïc

The 14th Trofeu Internacional Ciutat de Barcelona, also known as the BCN Cup, took place at Montjuïc's diving pool on Saturday 2 August 2025, bringing an international underwater rugby event to the city.

For Barcelona residents interested in aquatic sport, the tournament is a local opportunity to see and connect with a discipline that Club BCN Rugby Subaquàtic says is growing in Barcelona and Catalonia. International teams travelling to compete also add a sporting event to Montjuïc's summer programme.

A tournament growing beyond Barcelona

Club BCN Rugby Subaquàtic hosted the 14th edition in 2025, according to the event listing published by Sportalsub. The previous edition covered by Betevé was the 13th BCN Cup, also staged at the Montjuïc diving pool.

Betevé reported that the 13th edition drew participants from several European countries and that the tournament had increased its international reach over time. In its report on the specific 12th edition, Betevé named teams from Sweden, Germany, Italy and France among those taking part.

The club and the sport's supporters want underwater rugby eventually to reach the Olympic Games, Betevé reported. That would require the sport to be played more widely around the world and to increase its number of participants.

How underwater rugby is played

Underwater rugby is played beneath the surface of a pool, with teams attempting to place a ball in the opposing side's metal basket on the pool floor. The baskets are positioned at either end of the playing area, at depths of 3.5 to 5 metres.

The ball is filled with salt water or glycerine so that it sinks.
Players can pass the ball underwater, with some passes reaching three metres.
The game requires underwater breath-holding, speed, agility and endurance.

People wishing to find information about taking up the sport in Barcelona can consult Club BCN Rugby Subaquàtic, the tournament organiser.

Primary sources: barcelona.cat. Reported by Source Text Link, beteve.cat, sportalsub.net, natacio.cat, competicions.natacio.cat, barcelonarugbysub.net, [email protected], olimpicarena, es.wikipedia.org, apps.apple.com, donosticup.com, benidorm.org, aterpoloexchange.com, Betevé.