The transformation into a real sport happened independently in Germany, the United States, and Australia in the late '80s and early '90s.

Jugger as 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.

[3] Several variations on the game's rules exist:[4] some focus on teamwork, speed, and agility, and are referred to as "sport jugger"; while others use a model that more closely resembles the aesthetics and intensity of the game played in the movie, most commonly referred to as "wasteland jugger."

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 remaining four, known as enforcers or "pompfers", are equipped with padded swords or a foam ball on the end of a rope.

[5] Depending on the specific ruleset in play, games end after a particular number of points have been scored (often 5 or 7) or a particular amount of time has elapsed (usually 200 stones, or 300 seconds).

Alternatively a drum or speaker system is used, with the drummer keeping count of each beat (known as a stone).

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.

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.

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.

Each team consists of the following: Each qwik starts outside the central circle with the jugger placed inside.

Any time the qwik is hit in the arm or upper abdomen by an opponent they must release the skull.

There is a referee whose main objective is to identify and stop reckless play or poor sportsmanship.

An additional lick of Qwik Grip[definition needed] on the core will help keep the foam secure.

Calling Mills Park, Beckenham home, the newest club to join the AJL (Australian Jugger League) seeks to introduce the sport of Jugger as an alternative sport opportunity due to its inclusive and mixed gender ethos.

As with German and Australian jugger, the goal is to score more points than the opposing team within a time limit.

The pitch itself is rectangular with two mal (German for 'goals') at either end in the form of a foam square with a depression to receive the skull.

As a result of these rules, it is possible to abuse them by holding a pompf just above a person waiting to rise.

Wasteland jugger is yet another variant, where participants wear heavy home-made armor and use metal weapons.

Engagements are more like traditional combat, as the game is full-contact and uses such weapons as iron posts, axles, stop signs and metal chains to name a few.

(pronounced "cudgel") is a group based originally out of the American Midwest that began in 2009.

In their league, the weapons are made of rattan with impact surfaces padded with strips of mountain bike tire.

Helmets, knee guards, and hand protection are required gear as outlined in their codex.

Formed September 2010, they seem to have fallen into a state of inactivity, evidenced by their (lack of) Facebook activity.

This came with[clarification needed] the implementation of armor covering vital areas; the head, a majority of the ribcage, forearms, shins, and the entire spine were to eventually have required protection.

Using very similar rules, field size and equipment to its international counterparts, Jugger Ohio has also embraced social media as a viable way of communicating.

They are organizing the first-ever American jugger tournament, dubbed "The Dogskull Classic", planned in the style of the German Open.

[12] Jugger matches are held at the yearly post-apocalyptic festival Wasteland Weekend in California.