Monday, March 31, 2008

BCCK's Big Touch Tag and Rugby Night



About sixty people turned up for the recent BCCK Shindig and had the usual memory-erasing evening pre-HK Sevens....some reputedly left direct from the Millenium Hilton for the Cathay flight to HK...

The audience kindly and politely (shurely shome mishtake) listened carefully to presentations on Touch in Korea, the KRU and the state of rugby, Seoul Survivors, Seoul Sisters, Han River Pirates for kids, a proposed visit by England Counties and finally, last and certainly not least, Touch and Rugby in Korean schools.

BCCK members expressed a lot of interest in the state of the sports in Korea and are likely to increase their personal (and hopefully, financial) involvement.

Thanks, BCCK, for the opportunity!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Hong Kong here we come!

Seoul will be sending a team to the Hong Kong inter cities championship Touch tournament on April 26th and we're hoping for an even better result than last year! This time, with the help of our sponsors, we'll be sending a stronger team so watch out!

Looking forward to meeting all our old friends like Zion, Beijing, Shanghai and maybe even Komae?

Here is news of Zion.. http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/zionrugby

Touch rugby for kids in Seoul

Touch season starts again for kids in Seoul on April 6th in Yongsan Family Park. Directions to the Han River Pirates training sessions can be found in the attached link http://www.expat-advisory.com/south-korea/seoul/touch-rugby-kids-seoul.php

A new programme for kids is also due to start in Bundang in April and other schools/locations playing include Geoje-do, Taejon, Yongsan International School, Seoul International School and schools in Incheon.

Friday, March 28, 2008

2007 HK Sevens...Korea v Argies


A short history on (nearly everything about) Korean Rugby

As you probably know, rugby was first started in England, and about hundred years later,
it was first introduced to Korea in 1920. It was a very important sport for Koreans
because it was the only way to vent anger during Japan's colonial rule over the peninsula.

After that, rugby in Korea has achieved tremendous results and has grown very quickly.
Since the first rugby competition was held at the Asian games in 1998, Korea has won a
total of 4 gold medals and one silver medal. This feat is made even more impressive,
given that Korea's resources are much smaller than those of Japan.

However, after the 2002 Asian games, the Koreas rugby leaders failed to shift interest in rugby to the next generation. As a result, Korean rugby was weakened due to the lack of players, coaches, teams, and referees. So although Korea used to be the only Asian country that was a
threat to Japan, this no longer became the case. In 2003, the catastrophic decline led to a score difference of 83 points.

However, recently, rugby has begun to draw new interest among Koreans thanks to
financial support from foreign companies and a five-year plan for its development in
Korea. These are the goals for the future of rugby in Korea.

The first dream is to expand rugby across Korea as well as the rest of Asia in the hopes
that it will finally allow it to become an Olympic sport and be enjoyed by people from
all parts of Korea and Asia.

Korea's second dream is to ultimately participate in the Rugby World Cup. Up until now
Japan has been the only participating country representing Asia. In the 2007 Rugby
World Cup, we saw the very first Korean player participate; but he was also
unfortunately a member of another nation's team.

We can draw a brief, but strong parallel between the history of soccer in Korea and the
future of rugby here. Korea first participated in the Soccer World Cup in 1954. The
results were nine to nil and seven to nil. And yet, about 50 years later, Korea hosted the
soccer world cup and advanced to the semi finals. The belief is that Korea's
participation in the rugby world cup could be the same kind of ignition needed for
strong growth in participation and interest.

For these goals to be accomplished, Korea needs a strong national team, better facilities,
coaches, and players, and more participation and media exposure.

Friday, March 21, 2008

터치럭비란?

‘터치럭비’ 혹은 ‘터치’ 라고 불리는 이 경기는 일반적인 럭비와 달리 신체접촉이 적은 스포츠로 전세계적으로 남녀노소 누구나 즐기는 스포츠 입니다. 이 경기는 민첩함과 런닝, 캐칭, 그리고 패스가 필요한 역동적인 경기 입니다!
터치럭비는 타원형 공을 사용하는데 있어 럭비와 비슷한 스포츠라고 할 수 있습니다. 선수들은 서로에서 패스하며 경기를 진행하는데 패스는 반드시 뒤로만 할 수 있습니다. 하지만 럭비와는 달리 터치럭비에서는 태클, 스크럼, 킥 등이 없는 것이 다른 점 입니다.
이 경기의 목표는 상대보다 더 많은 트라이(터치다운)를 해서 득점을 올리는 것입니다. 공은 상대를 피해 빠져나가거나 기민하게 공격선수들에게 패스되며 수비 팀은 “상대를 터치”함으로써 공격을 막을 수 있습니다. “터치”는 공격자나 수비자 모두가 할 수 있으며 최소한의 힘을 사용해 하는 것이 좋습니다. 또한 터치는 공격자의 어느 곳이나 터치를 할 수 있는데 이는 공격자의 공까지를 포함합니다.
터치가 이뤄지면 공을 소유한 선수는 멈춰야 하며 터치 당한 곳으로 돌아가 “롤 볼”로 경기를 재개해야 합니다. 공격팀이 6번의 터치를 당하면 공격권은 상대에게 넘어가게 되고 상대는 “롤 볼”로 경기를 재개해야 합니다. 롤 볼 상황에서는 “더미하프”라 불리는 선수가 공을 집어서 패스해야 하며 더미하프는 공격권이 상대에게 넘어가기 때문에 터치를 당하거나 득점을 할 수 없습니다.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

What chance have Korea got in the Asia 5 Nations?

Well, as usual, it is difficult to read what is going on in Korean rugby! Regimes change at a rate of about one a year...which can't be good for the players or the prospects for the game here...

However, some positive signs are around; the signing of overseas players by some clubs has been rumoured, and Korean players signed for clubs overseas....that should raise playing standards here.

In the meantime, Japan should be set for an easy win in the HSBC sponsored Asia 5 Nations....except, I have heard that Japan may be otherwise occupied at that time with other internationals...which means they could be fielding B squads....

Who does that open the way for? We'll learn a lot on April 26 when we see if the Korean side has fallen further behind Japan....a HUGE crowd is expected at Oryu-dong for that game....

Where the ... is Oryu/Onsu?

Onsu station is on subway lines 1 and 7 and is about 30 mins from downtown by subway....a lot longer by car! It is in SW Seoul...
The graphic hasn't come out welll....anyway, it is exit 2 from the subway...

Hot dates for Korean rugby!

Saturday April 5 at Oryu rugby field (Onsu Subway station)
2pm Posco vs Kepco
4pm Daeshim vs SangmuWednesday

April 9 at Oryu
2pm Sangmu vs Samsung
4pm Kepco vs Daeshim

Sunday April 13 at Oryu
2pm Daeshim vs Posco
4pm Samsung vs Kepco

Saturday April 26 at Incheon Rugby Field (directions to follow later)
2pm Korea vs Japan

May 9th the Korean men's team is away in Qatar for a game.

May 17 location TBA (probably Onsu)
2pm Korea vs Khazakstan

May 25th the Korean men's team is away in HK for a game.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Sources of inspiration

For players and teams just getting into Touch in Korea, there are a load of resources available if you want to improve your game. Cheap, easy and fast to get are YouTube clips http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmdAENCzfXw&feature=related like this one where you can learn a lot just by watching the best sides....don't they make it look simple?

More systematic training material can be bought from sites like the Aussie Touch site and they have plenty of useful stuff http://www.austouch.com.au/?id=396

We may have some stuff available locally; contact seoultouch@gmail.com

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Yonsei evade Exiles


InSpired Touch by the Han River

Sparkling Touch on display Saturday, down by the river at Yeouido with the Spire Spring Touch Tournament. Eight teams took part with the furthest travellers being Waegook Cook up from Gumi.

Survivors carried off the main prize and Exiles the plate....

Thursday, March 13, 2008

BCCK Hosting a rugby shindig

BCCK (British Chamber of Commerce in KOrea) are holding a big rugby party just prior to the HK Sevens....should be a good one with footage from previous tournaments, a few of Korea's rugby luminaries and all the keen amateurs represented....be ready for a late one and straight to the airport for the Cathay flight to HK! See the events page here http://www.bcck.or.kr/

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Spire Seoul Spring Touch Tournament Sat March 15 2008


Kicks off 11:00, finishes at 15:30, afterwards to the Bungalow in Itaewon.
Interested contact seoultouch@gmail.com