The Atherstone Ball Game is officially the most brutal sport on Earth

The game ball is covered in blood as players take part in the Atherstone Ball Game in Atherstone, Warwickshire. Photo / Getty Images

Sometimes a casual kick of the footy in the park with 900 blokes just isn't enough to whet your competitive appetite and quiet bloodlust.

Enter the Atherstone Ball Game.

Combining all the best aspects of the UFC, volleyball and Gloucester's famous cheese wheel chase, the Atherstone Ball game is a brutal event pitting hundreds of Warwickshire locals against each other to fight over a ball for two hours.

The game honours a match played between Leicestershire and Warwickshire in 1199, when teams used a bag of gold as a ball. Photo / Getty Images

The game honours a match played between Leicestershire and Warwickshire in 1199, when teams used a bag of gold as a ball, and which was won by Warwickshire.

It has developed into something of a British tradition, taking place annually on Shrove Tuesday in Atherstone, Warwickshire.

The game is easy to play — all you have to do is hold the ball, with the last man in possession ball at 5pm being declared the victor.

Described as "Medieval football", the Atherstone Ball Game has but two simple rules:

1. Don't take it outside Long Street

2. Don't kill anyone

If only rugby union were as simple — and less congested.

Reports from The Mirror claimed a man's ear was "ripped off" in last week's match, which saw bulky British men throw punches, headbutts and trap each other headlocks.

Take a look at some of the craziest images from the recent Atherstone Ball game below.

This year's victor, 39-year-old Jonathan Slesser, says his triumph "means everything to me".

"This is the Ball Game, it is what we are here for," the four-time victor told UK Metro. "I am nothing without my team, I owe it all to them. I wasn't that confident in winning at the start, tactics are a spur of the moment thing. I think it is somebody else's turn to win it next year now."

The game ball is covered in blood as players take part in the Atherstone Ball Game in Atherstone, Warwickshire. Photo / Getty Images

While organisers denied anyone's ear was "ripped off", the amount of blood in one image is a clear indication that at least a few people left Long Street that afternoon with a bit less skin.

Reports from The Mirror claimed a man's ear was "ripped off" in last week's match, but officials deny the incident occurred. Photo / Getty Images

Players grapple with one another. Photo / Getty Images

Don't worry, we're thinking it too. This is possibly the greatest sport to ever grace planet Earth.

This game only has two rules and one of them is "no killing." pic.twitter.com/HvMSX2P0fu

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) March 7, 2019

Players grapple with one another as they take part in the Atherstone Ball Game. Photo / Getty Images

Got to love Long Street on Atherstone Ball Game Day! #AtherstoneBallGame pic.twitter.com/AZ0G4Xp4nd

— Bobby Bridge (@bobby_bridge) March 5, 2019