Manipuri Rugby

Introduction

Yubi Lakpi is an outdoor game that originated in Manipur, and even today, it is played primarily in Manipur. It is an intense sport, played especially during the Sangai Festival that showcases the region’s traditional music, dances and games. This game predates and resembles the games played with an oval ball, such as American football or British rugby. However, unlike these Western games, Yubi Lakpi involves martial arts like Mukna – the Meitie wrestling.

The name is also of Manipuri origin: Yubi means coconut, and Lakpi means to grab. Literally, Yubi Lakpi means ‘coconut snatching’.

Other Names

The game is also known as Manipuri Rugby.

The Play

This game engages the players in a struggle to snatch an unpeeled, oil-soaked coconut, which they have to carry through the goal at the other end of the field. Snatching and holding the coconut is challenging as players are smeared with a mixture of mustard oil and water before the game starts. This mixture of oil and water makes them slippery for the opponents to catch and hold.

It is a game of individuals because each player attempts to win the coconut and get the reward. There are no opposing teams and no fixed time duration for the competition. The individual player plays against all the remaining players at all times.

Traditionally, after battling the other players, the snatched coconut is presented to the chief of the tribe. The chief would observe the play and notice the most skilful and strongest player. Each player, therefore, put in all their efforts to get noticed for possessing battlefield qualities. Nowadays, the chief is often a teacher, a chief guest or an official.

The Playground

The sport is played on a rectangular field, about 45 m x 18 m in dimensions. Going lengthwise, one end of the field has a 4.5 m x 3 m box area after the finish line, known as the goal region. The goal region is mostly indicated by a pole or two pieces of white cloth rolled up to look like a flag. There is only one goalpost.

The playground may vary based on the discretion of the game organisers. It is mostly played on rough, dried mud. Alternatively, it can be played on a grass field.

Material Required

Lime powder or chalk sticks to mark boundaries, mustard oil and coconut are required. A rugby ball or an American football can also be used in place of a coconut.

Players are generally barefoot and wear shorts, including langot. They do not wear shirts because the players apply oil on the body and constantly wrestle with physical contact. Women players can choose their dress based on a common understanding.

Number of Players and Key Roles

As the game is about an individual’s performance against all the other players, there is no limit to the number of players. The number can be changed to accommodate additional or fewer players. We recommend no more than seven players and no less than four.

There are two referees—one each at the start and end line. They observe and govern the game, and look for fouls. The game also has an umpire who starts the game and is the final authority on decisions.

Playing Method

The players assemble behind the start line outside the boundary of the playground.
The game starts with the referee placing the coconut inside the playground, near the start line. Immediately after that, the referee signals the start of the game with a whistle. The players rush inside the playground, and each one attempts to grab the coconut.
The player who grabs the coconut holds it to the chest and runs towards the goal, manoeuvring to avoid getting caught by the opponents.
As soon as the player with the coconut starts running, the others rush to push him or her to the ground. Once down, the player tries to get up, but the others storm over to push the player down, each trying to snatch the coconut. But the player with the coconut makes every effort to hold on to it. It requires a great deal of energy, fitness and stamina to endure extensive strain.
When another player snatches the coconut, that player now rushes towards the finish line. The process of rushing and catching begins all over again with the new player as the target. Then the coconut is snatched by yet another player, and the game continues.
With each new player getting the coconut, the group reaches closer to the goalpost. While the game may appear simple, it is difficult to get a noticeable breakthrough and reach the goalpost, considering each player is slippery and hard to hold. After several tussles, one of the players gets to the goalpost.
At this final stage, an intense struggle occurs when one of the players slips away with the coconut after defending against all the players. Such escapes require agility and strength.
Once a goal is achieved, the game is over.
The winner offers the coconut to the chief or the judges sitting just beyond the goal line.
The next round of the game can start, and will keep going for pre-defined time, say 30 minutes or till the players agree to play.

Scoring

No scoring points or team structure is applied in this game. The player who reaches the goal box first with the coconut is the sole winner. The game starts fresh again for the next innings.

Rules

Players must hold the coconut against their chest or carry it under their arm. It must touch the body at all times.
Players cannot kick, punch or beat the opponents or tackle players who do not have the coconut.
Players cannot kick the coconut. The coconut must be carried with the players all the way to the goal.
Players are allowed to tackle only the player carrying the coconut. They cannot hinder or obstruct other runners.
The player who reaches the goal box while in possession of the coconut is the winner.

Optionally, the coconut is later offered to the chief or the judge. The winner is also often awarded the coconut as the prize.

Position, Tasks and Techniques

Roles

Positions

Tasks

Strategy | Techniques

The player in possession of the coconut

Be on the run with the coconut.

Rush towards the goal line, defending against all the other players.

Keep changing the direction of running, and move unpredictably.

Swiftly change the style of body moves, and confuse the opponents about the next move.

Players pursuing the coconut

Be on the run. Chase the player with the coconut.

Try to retrieve the coconut by snatching, running fast and pushing.

Attack the player with the coconut from an angle that provides maximum resistance to the active player and offers the least resistance from the other chasers.

Key Skills Required

The game requires a great deal of vigorous body play, stamina and endurance, and demands wrestling ability, speed and excellent reflexes. An alert mind and calmness under pressure are needed as well. It is tough to move forward with the coconut, even for a few steps, if the player is not strong and skilled in wrestling martial arts like Mukna and Sharit Sharat compared to the opponents.

Players of any age and gender with stamina and combat skills can participate in this game. The dress code can be modified to suit the players.

Caution

To prevent stumbling while running fast, the playground surface should be even without bumps or potholes.

To prevent injuries, the players should not hinder the movements of the other players. The players should not push other teammates out of the boundary.

The game is normally played by individuals with strength and stamina, and can be risky for relatively less skilled players.

Skills Developed

Yubi lakpi enhances reflex actions like dodging and feinting. Players become more alert and aware of surrounding traps that can hold them back. This game develops physiological strength by exercising leg and hand muscles. Also, fast running and quick decision making are the key skills gained.

Life Lessons

Yubi lakpi is a game of individuals because each player tries to win the coconut and get the reward. In the original ancient games, the king would watch the players to see who was the most skilful and possessed qualities for the battlefield. Therefore, each player would try to impress and strive to be fit for any struggle or fights in life.

Current State

The movie director Omung Kumar and the producer Sandeep Ssingh of Mary Kom and Sarbjit fame are collaborating to make a sports drama, Yubi Lakpi, indicating that the game is gaining traction.

An official game is held on the occasion of the five-day Yaoshang festival in the presence of the Manipuri royal family. Yaoshang—a mini Olympiad is a platform for channelising young talents and improving harmonious socialisation among the locals.

Origin

Largely unexplored and undisturbed, north-east India has a diverse culture of traditional sports and festivals. Yubi lakpi is traditionally associated with native forms of Hinduism. It is said to have started as a ceremonial re-enactment of the celestial grabbing of the pot of nectar after the Samudra Manthan.

Emma Levine, an English writer on little known Asian sports, speculates:

Perhaps this was the root of modern rugby? Most Manipuris are quite adamant that the modern world ‘stole’ the idea from them and made it into rugby…. This game, which has been around for centuries, is so similar to rugby, which evolved a great deal later, that it must be more than a coincidence.

Variations of the Game

In ancient times, the group played as two teams, and it was not necessary to have an equal number of players in both teams. The players of the team that possesses the coconut were allowed to prevent the opponents who are hindering the move towards the goal.
Players need not oil their bodies or play bare-chested; they can wear regular sports attire, this game can be played during school breaks.

Similar Games

Regions	Names
Australia	Man grook
China	Cuju
The United Kingdom	Rugby
Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Uruguay and Spain.	Rayuela
Italy	Calcio fiorentino
Ghana	Tumatu