Cnapan (sometimes spelt Knapan or Knappan) is an archaic sport which vaguely resembles some modern versions of football. The game is claimed to have originated (and seems to have remained largely confined to) the Western counties of Wales, especially Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire. Adjective archaic (more archaic, most archaic) From an earlier period and no longer in common use; of or characterized by antiquity or archaism, antiquated. ... Football is the name given to a number of different, but related, team sports. ... Cardiganshire (Sir Aberteifi in Welsh) was a traditional county in Wales that existed between 1282 and 1974. ... Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro) is a county in the south-west of Wales in the United Kingdom. ...

History

Little information about the origins of the game can be found because of the age of the game, but it is speculated to have originated sometime in the Middle Ages as a form of "organised chaos" to relieve the back-breaking monotonous work of the locals (many of whom lived meager lives as peasants). The game also seems to have evolved gradually over the years, with no definitive set of rules governing its play; but as the game is played with but a few simple rules, this has not been a major hindrence to play. Leaving aside the gentry on horseback, there were certainly two groups of players on each side, some who grappled for the cnapan and others who were the fast and elusive runners. There were also features approximating to scrummages and lineouts. So in spite of the hard ball and great crowds of players, cnapan has a good claim to be the real forerunner of rugby football. The game was recreated for about ten years in Newport (Pembrokeshire) around 1985-95, with an annual contest between Newport Parish and Nevern Parish, with much smaller sides and a referee to keep order. The "Cnapan Trophy" still exists. In the end the game had to be abandoned because the organizers could not obtain insurance cover for the players. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Categories: 1911 Britannica | Historical stubs | Feudalism ...

Rules of Play

The game is played with large numbers of people from two neighbouring parishes (usually involving the whole of the population of the two participating parishes), and a large solid wood ball probably similar in size and shape to a modern basketball. A day prior to the game, this ball is soaked or boiled for at least 12 hours (and usually overnight) in oil, animal fat, or any other commonly available lubricant; this is done to make the ball more difficult to catch and hold on to, and thus making play more unpredictable.

The sole object of the game is to take the ball to the church of one's home parish using any means possible; however the game is not usually played until the ball has actually reached the parish church as the majority of the opposing parish usually give up when the ball is moved sufficiently inside a team's parish as to render a win for the opposing parish unlikely.

Other than the rule desribled above, there are no other rules in the game of Cnapan, which meant that all players of the game were open to the injuries which inevitably resulted from over-zealous attempts at gaining possession of the ball. But despite this, when games were organised, many would play (as is described in the extract below).

The nature of the game is described at length by George Owen (1552-1613), a historian of Pembrokeshire: George Owen of Henllys (1552-August 26, 1613) was an English antiquarian, author, and naturalist. ... Events April - War between Henry II of France and Emperor Charles V. Henry invades Lorraine and captures Toul, Metz, and Verdun. ... Events January - Galileo observes Neptune, but mistakes it for a star and so is not credited with its discovery. ... Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro) is a county in the south-west of Wales in the United Kingdom. ...

"This game is called and not unfitly as shall be showed, the game is thought to be of great antiquity and is as followeth. The ancient Britons being naturally a warlike nation did no doubt for the exercise of their youth in time of peace and to avoid idleness devise games of activity where each man might show his natural prowess and agility, as some for strength of the body by wrestling, lifting of heavy burdens, others for the arm as in casting the bar, sledge, stone, or hurling the bawl or ball, others that excelled in swiftness of foot, to win the praise therein by running, and surely for the exercise of the parts aforesaid this cnapan was prudently invented, had the same continued without abuse thereof. For in it, beside the exercise of the bodily strength, it is not without resemblance of warlike providence, as shall be hereafter declared, and first before I describe you the play, I will let you know that this cnapan happens and falls out m be by two means. The one is a settled or standing cnapan the date and place being known and yearly haunted and observed : of these cnapan days in Pembrokeshire there were wont to be five in number, the first at Bury sands between the parishes of Nevern and Newport upon Shrove Tuesday yearly; the second at Portheinon, on Eastcr Monday, between the parishes of Meline and Eglwyswrw; the third on low Easterday at Pwll-du in Penbedw between the parishes Penrhydd and Penbedw; the fourth and fifth were wont to be at St. Meigans in Cemais between Cemais men of the one party, and Emlyn men, and the men of Cardiganshire with them of the other party, the first upon Ascension Day, the other upon Corpus Christi day, 'and these two last were the great and main places, far exceeding any of the former in multitude of people for at these places there have often times been esteemed two thousand foot beside horsemen...

...About one or two of the clock afternoon begins the play, in this sort, after a cry made both parties draw to into some plain, all first stripped bare saving a light pair of breeches, bare-headed, bare-bodied, bare legs and feet. . : for if he leave but his shirt on his back in the fury of the game, it is most commonly torn to pieces and I have also seen some long-lock gallants, trimly trimmed at this game not by clipping but by pulling their hair and beards.

The foot company thus meeting, there is a round ball prepared of a reasonable quantity so as a man may hold it in his hand and no more, this ball is of some massy wood as box, yew, crab or holly tree and should be boiled in tallow for m make it slippery and hard to hold. This ball is called cnapan and is by one of the company hurling bolt upright into the air, and at the fall he that catches it hurls it towards the country he plays for, for goal or appointed place there is none neither needs any, for the play is not given over until the cnapan be so far carried that there is no hope to return it back that night, for the carrying of it a mile or two miles from the first place is no losing of the honour so it be still followed by the company and the play still maintained, it is often times seen the chase to follow two miles and more. . . It is a strange sight to see a thousand or fifteen hundred naked men to concur together in a cluster in following the an as the same is hurled backward and forward..."

The Game Today

The game is no longer played, mainly because of the inevitable and serious injuries which result from playing the game, but also because modern technology (such as the car) would either render play over within a few minutes, or result in carnage comparable to that seen in Carmageddon. But the annual contests between Newport and Nevern Parishes in 1985-95 were greatly enjoyed by local youngsters, with no serious injuries. Carmageddon is the first of a series of graphically violent driving-oriented video games produced by Stainless Software, published by Interplay and SCi. ...

Further details aboput the game can be found in Brian John's book called "The Ancient Game of Cnapan". Despite the game's discontinuation, the legacy of the game can be seen in some places where it was previously played; an example being the "Cnapan hotel" in Newport, Pembrokeshire. Newport (Welsh: Trefdraeth) is a town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Nevern in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. ...