Water polo, also known as water rugby is a popular game in the U.S and the U.K. Though this is an old game, little is known about its history and origin. Water polo originated in mid-nineteenth century in the lakes of England. Earlier an inflated rubber ball from India, known as a “pulu” was used to play this game. Later on both the ball and the game came to be known as water polo.

An increasing attraction was seen for water polo in 1870, when the London Swimming Association introduced a set of water polo rules for indoor swimming pools. On the other hand, water polo became popular in the U.S in 1888. It was in 1890, when the New York Athletic Club started playing this exciting water sport at venues like J.H. Smith and Sydenham Swimmers Club. In 1900, Arnold Heilban even started a Water Polo team.

In 1900 Olympics, Men’s water polo was the first ever team sport along with other sports like cricket, rugby, rowing, horse polo and soccer. Great Britain and Belgium were the only two teams that played waterpolo in the 1900 Olympics, in which Britain won by 7-2 in the final.

For a long time, water polo remained a medal sport for men only. However, this changed soon when the women’s water polo was introduced as an Olympic sport during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games as an outcome of political protests from the Australian women’s team.

Men’s Water Polo World Championship is organized every 2 to 4 years since 1973 within the FINA World Aquatics Championships. Later in 1986, Women’s water polo was also added in this championship. Since 1979, FINA Water Polo World Cup, a second tournament series started taking place every other year. FINA Water Polo World League, the first international league of water polo was organized in 2002.