Muddled Misunderstanding! Taitung's 'Long Guomai Cup' Rugby Match Kicks Off Amidst Village Chief's Confusion

What began as a spontaneous idea among friends has evolved into a celebrated annual event: the "Long Guomai Cup" rugby tournament, held in the muddy fields of Taitung, Taiwan. This unique competition, born from the post-harvest rice paddies, has gained popularity, attracting teams from across the island, including Taipei and Kaohsiung.

The tournament primarily features elementary and middle school students playing a safe, non-contact version of rugby known as Touch Rugby. Players run forward and pass the ball backward, embracing the messy conditions. The rules allow for playing in the mud and water channels, with participants encouraged to get thoroughly dirty. Young players from Tainan's Mingde Junior High described the game as more challenging, requiring careful passes to avoid losing the ball in the mud, but ultimately "so much fun."

Adults engage in a more intense version, often splashing through mud and water as they run with the ball. Spectators have learned to quickly evade the flying mud and water, often getting splashed themselves, leading to laughter. The fast-paced nature of the game, both for players and observers, makes it an energetic and entertaining spectacle.

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It's more difficult, harder to run, and passes need to be more careful, otherwise it's hard to pick up again and you'll miss the pass. But it's so much fun!

Event initiator Xue Huibin explained that the tournament started five years ago when he brought his elementary school rugby team to play in the harvested paddies. Initially, he invited friends from northern and southern Taiwan to ensure enough players. The event's surprising success led to friends proactively inquiring about it the following year, cementing its continuation.

Coach Cai Jiajun, who brings teams from southern Taiwan, noted that while the standard rugby field is 110 meters long and 70 meters wide, this event uses private farmland for a fun experience in the mud. He believes it boosts local tourism and allows young participants to connect with rural life and nature by playing in the earth.

Interestingly, there is another place in Taitung called "Long Guomai" (meaning "muddy ground" in Taiwanese Hokkien), located north of the tournament site. The village chief of Mingfeng Village, Wu Shengxiong, expressed confusion over persistent inquiries about a rugby match, stating that his village does not host such an event. The name "Long Guomai" in his area was a later adaptation of the local indigenous name "Dananaw," meaning "pool" or "big water pit."

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This year, every year around this time, why do people keep asking me 'when, when is the competition?' What strange group is this? Our village doesn't have this group or competition!