The traditional and rough sport of shinty explainedpublished at 14:23 BST
Image source, Getty ImagesKingussie (in red and blue) versus Kinlochshiel in 2013
Many people in Scotland have spent weekends stood alongside their local shinty pitch, rain or shine, to watch a game. Today, that's the honour for Prince William and Catherine.
Twelve players per side use a curved wooden stick called a caman to play a leather ball. Some players choose to wear full face protective helmets throughout the two 45-minute halves.
It begins with the throw up, where the referee throws the ball in the air between two players, leaving them to wrestle for it.
It's fast, it's physical, it's traditional.
It's a traditional Scottish sport where teams are typically made up of local communities. Most clubs are in the Highlands, but it's not exclusive to that area.
Camanachd (the Scottish Gaelic word for shinty) has pre-medieval origins and was seen as a way to train warriors as it developed similar skills for battle.
Now, it's something that brings local people together, and breathes life into small villages across the Highlands and beyond.
On their visit, William and Catherine said they watched shinty while at St Andrews University, but the prince said it looked a bit "bruising".
Image source, Reuters






















