QUIDDITCH has avoided an international crisis.

No, seriously. No Voldemort here, just muggle quidditch launching an inaugural European Games.

They took place last weekend in Sarteano, in Tuscany, Italy.

France scooped the title, beating Britain 90-50 in the final, to top 11 teams in a sport created in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

So why was the quidditch world nearly in crisis?

Well, the USA hosted a ‘World Cup’ earlier this year, but it only included teams from the home continent.

That was because 12 months ago all quidditch federations from Europe and Oceania refused entry to the competition in a protest at it being held in the States every year due to costs and wanting a more ‘international’ tournament.

Cue the International Quidditch Association, the governing body for the sport, dissolving into individual nations, and the formation of local and regional tournaments such as the European Games.

But these muggle associations have put their heads – and, er, broomsticks – together and a bi-annual Global Games will continue – winners France will take the European spot.

In fact, the first Global Games took place in Oxford to coincide with the London Olympics in 2012.

So, for those not familiar with Harry Potter, what is qudditch?

It actually looks pretty brutal, sounds quite complex, but is proving incredibly popular across the States and now the rest of the world.

Created in 2005 by college students in Vermont, by 2008 a 12-team full-contact and gender-inclusive World Club Championship had been created.

World Cup Five, in 2011, saw 96 teams enter from around the globe and more than 10,000 spectators pay for tickets.

Warrington Guardian: Angus Barry pictured at the Quidditch tournament between Britain and France in Cutteslowe Park

Seven broomstick-wielding players make up each team, comprising of one seeker, three chasers, two beaters and a keeper.

The seeker chases the snitch, a neutral player running around with a tennis ball in their waistband, the chasers score by throwing or kicking the quaffle into hoops, and the beaters use bludgers to disrupt other players.

The game ends when the snitch is caught – magic, eh?

Talking of international competition, the Netball World Cup begins next week, but who are the reigning champions?

Lots of people guessed last week’s answer, it was of course Brian Deane for Sheffield United in a 2-1 win over Manchester United.