Jugger is a sport inspired by the 1989 film The Salute of the Jugger (released as The Blood of Heroes in the United States), in which a game of the same name is played. The film version was invented by the film's stunt coordinator, Guy Norris, and its writer-director, David Webb Peoples, for the movie. The transformation into a real sport happened independently in Germany, the United States, and Australia in the late '80s and early '90s.
Several variations on the game's rules exist: some focus on teamwork, speed, and agility, and are referred to as "sport jugger"; while others more closely resembles the aesthetics and intensity of the game played in the movie, most commonly referred to as "wasteland jugger."
Jugger as a sport is gaining popularity in Germany, especially with university and college teams, with its own league. There are teams in Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Ireland, England, Poland, Czech republic, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Colombia, Costa Rica, The Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, and Romania.
The first international jugger tournament took place in Hamburg, Germany on 20 May 2007 between the Irish team Setanta and a number of the Northern German teams. In 2008, Australia and Ireland came to Germany to take part in the 1st German Open, making it the first two-continent tournament in jugger. The bi-annual World Club Championships regularly see teams and players attending from 4 continents (Europe, Australia, North America, South America).
Goal The goal of the game is to collect the ball (a.k.a. "skull" or "jugg") from the center of the field and place it in a goal ("mal", "mound", or "castle") at the opposite end of the field from where one's team starts. Teams are composed of 5 players, of which one is allowed to touch the ball. This player is known as the "qwik" or runner. The remaining four, known as "pompfers" or enforcers, are equipped with padded weapons. These four make room for their runner to get to the goal by "tagging" players of the opposing team with their weapons. They can also continuously "pin" opponents by holding their weapons to them.
The game begins with the runners engaging in rugby-style wrestling to get the control of the ball. The game ends after a particular number of points have been scored (often 5 or 7) or a particular amount of time has elapsed, often 200 stones (a stone is a unit of time in the game, each lasting 1.5 seconds) or 5 minutes.
Equipment Skull: a "ball" made to resemble a dog skull, usually made of foam and tape which must be carried to the opposite end of the field. (German: in "Berlin tradition", or, in "Hamburg/Dilettanten tradition"On the two traditions see also: Jugger. A post-apocalyptic sport for all occasions, Morrisville 2008, pp. 18–20): (not an actual dog skull as in The Blood of Heroes, as an actual dog skull would break). In Germany and Ireland, a dog skull made of cellfoam, covered with latex, is used. Mounds: In most countries, a pyramid with the top cut off and a centre hollow is used. (German: ) Weapons: A staff, 180 cm in length, Australian rules have a 110 cm striking zone at one end and another in the middle, creating two distinct hand grips. Thrusting is not allowed. German rules also state thrusting is not allowed. Americas rules state thrusting is allowed but discouraged A Q-Tip, 200 cm in length, double-ended striking zones of maximum 60 cm, thrusting is allowed A longsword, 140 cm in length, thrusting is allowed A short sword and shield, short sword 85 cm in length, thrusting is allowed; padded shield, 60 cm in diameter Two short swords, each 85 cm in length A chain, 320 cm in length with optional 50 cm club attached to the handle end (replacing 50 cm of chain). The ball of the chain is at least 20 cm diameter and soft.
Traditional timekeeping is done with a gong and 100 stones: The stones are thrown against the gong to keep time. One hundred stones per third, three thirds per game. Alternatively a drum or speaker system is used, with the drummer keeping count of each beat (known as a stone). One hundred stones per third, three thirds per game. In conjunction with official equipment, smartphone applications such as Jugger Stones or Jugger Match are sometimes used for scorekeeping and/or drum beats.
Roles A team is composed of the eight following persons, five of which are allowed to be on the field: One qwik (sometimes spelled quickFor the correct spelling 'qwik', see credits of the movie and the director's note in the book 'Jugger. A post-apocalyptic sport for all occasions', p. 7): An unarmed player, and the only one allowed to touch the skull Maximum one chain: A player armed with a chain Three or, if no chain, four enforcers (German term: ): Armed with their choice of weapons (except chain). May handle the skull with their weapons Up to three substitutes, who may replace any player between points
Roles (in the film) In the film The Salute of the Jugger (or 'The Blood of Heroes'), each role is heard at least once in the dialogue:
Qwik – Kidda (portrayed by Joan Chen) and other characters in the movie refer to this role a few times throughout the movie. Slash – Sallow (portrayed by Rutger Hauer) is described as one (and refers to others) this role. Both Sallow and Gonzo are described as "Slashes" in the movie. Drive – Cim (or Big Cimber, portrayed by Anna Katarina) or Mbulu (portrayed by Delroy Lindo) are described as such, and only once, by Sallow when he, Cim, and Mbulu are debating midway through the movie. Back Charge – Mbulu (portrayed by Delroy Lindo) or Cim (or Big Cimber, portrayed by Anna Katarina) are described as such, and only once, by Sallow when he, Cim, and Mbulu are debating midway through the movie. Maserer – Young Gar (portrayed on Sallow's team by Vincent D'Onofrio) .
Rules
Germany Based on the rules of the German jugger community, as published at jugger.org:
the playing field is a rectangle with clipped corners – so an octagon weapons are known as , and are divided into shields, chains and spars a team consists of a maximum of eight players per game: exactly five field players and up to three substitute players each team must have exactly one runner (qwik) on the field a maximum of one chain player is allowed
Australia The objective of the game is for the team's qwik to get the foam dog skull, or jugg, into the opposing team's mound to score goals, while minimising the number of goals the opposing team scores within the time limit. The enforcer's role is to defend their Qwik from the opposing players.
Positions Australian rules jugger is played with two teams of five juggers: three enforcers with , one chain and one qwik.
QwiksThe qwik is unarmed and the only player who can carry the skull. The two qwiks start outside the centre circle and when the game begins wrestle for the skull. The enforcers may not enter the circle until the skull or the whole body of one of the qwiks leave the circle. A qwik's hands and forearms are not considered a hit zone and may be used to block.
EnforcersThe enforcers wield various classes of padded (listed above)
Historically there could only be a maximum of two of the same class of weapon among the other enforcers, but this restriction has been lifted. An enforcer can pin another player by resting their weapon on the hit player at any time while the player is kneeling. Even with paired shorts or Q-tips, a player can only pin one opponent.
Chain
The position of chain wields a ball-and-chain of plastic and foam up to 320 cm long. The chain can have a 50 cm handle (replacing 50 cm of chain) with a striking surface which can be used to tag opponents for a regular Spar penalty count.
Timekeeping Most games consist of two halves of 150 stones each, while tournament finals are three thirds of 150 stones. Historically kept by throwing stones against a gong, now other methods such as drums or speakers are used. Stone beats are now 1.5 seconds apart when previously they had been 2.5 seconds apart for matches of 100 stones per half.
Hits Stone penalties for hits vary between countries from three to five for the spar/pompfen and five and eight for the chain. Australia played three and five until 2017 when they adopted five and eight. When a player is hit by the other team they take a knee and are inactive for the count of five stones. If hit with the ball of the chain they take a knee for a count of eight stones. Unsafe head hits incur a penalty on the hitter of eight stones for safety.
Strike locations are from the neck down (excluding hands on cored weapons or the entire forearm from the elbow down for qwiks). All strikes in jugger are touch, so there is no need to hit heavily or try to cause injury.
Australia 'POX-ECLIPSE' A jugger league was formed in Western Australia in 2018 with an aim to resemble more closely the activity seen in the film. The league was formed by a Blazing Swan (Burning Man regional event) theme camp called The Church of Belligerence. The game has recently found a new home at POX-ECLIPSE, Australia's first major 'Wastelander' event.
The games consist of three rounds of 100 stones (approximately one stone per second). A round is over once 100 stones have been thrown or a qwik places the jugger (dog skull) on the mound on the opposite side of the field. In the case of a tie, a fourth round of 100 stones will be played.
All players are required to over act their hits. As such, if a substantial hit lands on one's leg by a staff act as if it were a metal rod that did so thus carry a limp for the rest of the round.. Any player who is ignoring hits against them will be swapped out for a sub at the referee's discretion.
Each team consists of the following:
1 qwik (running player) 1 slash (captain - has busser) 1 drive (has a rambasher) 1 backcharge (has a rambasher) 1 masserer (has a maser aka chain) 2–3 substitutes
The naming convention of the players and their tools is the only version of the game played that adheres to the screenplay/movie naming conventions from The Salute of the Jugger.
The rule book to the POX version is available through Umbrella Entertainment alongside the 2025 remaster of the original movie.
Gameplay Each qwik starts outside the central circle with the jugger placed inside. The two qwiks start outside the circle and may enter the circle once the first stone strikes, signalling the start of the match. Only the qwiks may enter the circle during the start of the round whilst other players may only engage once the jugger (the skull) has left the circle. The qwik is the only player that can handle the jugger at any time. The two qwiks are in continual vying for possession of the jugger and use their speed, agility and bare hands to claim the jugger. Once a qwik has the jugger they must successfully take the jugger to the other end of the field and place it on the mound to score a point, ending the round. Any time the qwik is hit in the arm or upper abdomen by an opponent they must release the skull. The role of the enforcers is to intercept the opposing qwik and/or defend their own qwik, ensuring them safe passage across the playing field. An enforcer who knocks over an opposing enforcer or qwik may choose to pin the other – keeping them out of play. This is done by yelling "pin" whilst holding their weapon against the back of the downed opponent. After five seconds they are released and can resume play. Note: an enforcer can manipulate the jugger with a weapon.
Contest: When the two qwiks are grappling over the jugger, the referee will declare "contest". Until one qwik has possession of the skull, enforcers are only allowed to engage with other enforcers or chain during this time.
The chain acts as a "goalie", limited to the triangular section at the end of each field. If the qwik is hit anywhere by a chain whilst in possession of the jugger, the qwik must drop the jugger.