The game of rugby fives is one of the simplest, and
therefore probably one of the most ancient, of all games
in which a ball is struck by alternate players against a
wall or over some obstacle. Several other versions of
“fives” also exist.
History
References to games of hand-tennis and hand-ball are
widely found from the 16th century onward. While accounts of why hand-ball is now called “fives” vary, the
most likely explanation is that the name refers to the
five fingers of the hand.
With the formation of the Rugby Fives Association
(RFA) in 1927, attempts were made to standardize both
the rules and the court. The latter was a slow and costly
process spurred by the founding of competitive
matches. However, many courts remain unregularized
and are likely to remain so, given costs and the game’s
“minor” status.
Rules and Play
Rugby’s form of the fives game is played by two (singles) or four players (doubles) in a four-walled court
with a small hard white ball approximately the size of a
golf ball. Teams consist of four players. A full match
consists of four singles matches and two sets of doubles matches, each pair of one team playing each pair
of the other team. The result is decided on the basis of
points scored, not games won. Thus, a team can win
more games than its opponents but still lose the match
because it scored fewer points.The first side to score 15
points wins the game. However, if the score reaches
14–14 then the side that is “hand out” may select to
play to either 15 or 16 points in order to win the game.
Styles and techniques of play vary, but the essential requirement is the ability to hit the ball so that the opponent cannot return it. Players often “split” the court,
back and front or left and right.
Fives has long been and still remains a “minor”sport
in its two major strongholds, the public schools and Oxford and Cambridge.Viewing space is invariably limited
and spectators few. Nevertheless, the Rugby Fives Association formed in 1947 continues to do all that it can to
maintain and preserve this ancient court game.
—TIMOTHY J. L. CHANDLER
Bibliography: Rugby Fives Association. (1994) Fives: Courts,
Fixtures and Players. Sutton Valence, UK: Rugby Fives Association.