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What is Cammag? The Island's 'national sport'

Photo courtesy of Culture Vannin

A Manx tradition: explained

It's often billed as the Isle of Man's 'national sport' - but what is Cammag?

In modern times, the annual Cammag match takes place every Boxing Day, or St Stephen's Day, on 26 December.

Culture Vannin has issued a call to arms - for citizens to get themselves ready.

It takes place after you've been to Hunt the Wren in the morning.

You're encouraged to "find yourself a good stick from a hedgerow somewhere, and make sure you're at St. John's for 2pm."

Held on the fair field, the sport is somewhere close to hockey, with the full rule set available on Wikipedia.

At the conclusion of the match, there'll be an informal gathering at the Tynwald Inn with a traditional music session.

Dollin Mercer asked Stuart Bennett, who has refereed the affair once or twice, to give us a bit of an insight into the history of the game, and where it came from:

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