I was walking across the Meadows last Saturday, on my way to the library for a full day of study, when I stopped, captivated by a strange sight. A horde of people ran amok, clutching sticks between their legs as they ran. Some hit others with a dodgeball as they desperately tried to escape it, others launched deflated volleyballs through floating hoops, and a couple competed to get their hands on a tennis ball wrapped in a sock. As bizarre as the scene in front of me was, I recognized it instantly — they were playing quidditch, straight out of a Harry Potter book. I looked around to see my intrigue mirrored in the other passers-by.
But the sport is not quidditch — it’s quadball. I spoke to Cris Wang, captain of the Holyrood Hippogriffs, in a sit-down interview to dig for more details. We start off lightly; when asked about what drew him to the sport, he replies immediately: “The inclusivity, […] there is diversity on the pitch at all times.”
He speaks about how quadball is a rare sport that welcomes all genders, including the non-binary and trans community: “Quadball is not gender-blind but gender-affirming,” he says, and proceeds to comment on how mixed sports are usually limited to just women and men, including none of the people who find themselves in-between. To Cris, the inclusivity of quadball is one of the foundations of the sport and what appeals to people.
You may be wondering why the sport isn’t called quidditch, an intrigue I shared — it hails straight out of one J.K. Rowling’s famous books, rules and all. What need was there for a name change? Surely if it was called quidditch, the sport would attract more people, especially in Edinburgh, a known hub for all things Harry Potter?
Cris manages to clear it up for me. Rowling, author of the best-selling book series of all time, is also known for her strong transphobic views — she has made several derogatory comments about trans women since 2018. “J.K. Rowling’s values don’t align with quadball’s values,” he tells me, and based on what he has told me the sport was all about, I fervently agree. But if J.K. Rowling’s work is where the sport originated from, will it ever be able to truly separate itself from her? Players left quadball in droves after the author made transphobic comments, and the team remains tainted by her legacy as low recruitment levels persist.
Nevertheless, Cris is optimistic about the future of the team and the sport, even giving an open invitation: “If you’re walking by, don’t be afraid to join us.” The Holyrood Hippogriffs recently won regionals and continue to train every Saturday from 12-2pm at the Meadows before going to the pub afterwards.
Image by Ulia Makoveeva for The Student.