Asian Five Nations Cup Opening Game (vs Japan)

Wheelchair Rugby in Korea?

Looks like even the "on wheels" version of rugby is starting up in Korea http://www.cauon.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=12010
Park, Sung-jin wrote this article on a Korean named Yoon, Se-wan who is making things happen in the sport and Korea even has a Wheelchair Rugby Association who competed in last years Oceana Championships...
Maybe they can give us some more detailed news?

Seoul Globetrotters in HK

Highly tuned athletes?

Looks like no way out here!

Touch, Touch, Touch!

Seoul Globetrotters reach semifinal in Hong Kong's Intercities Touch Tournament

A score by tournament runners-up Dragons in the last thirty seconds of the semi-final put out Seoul's heroes. Up until then, despite an early loss against the HK development squad, things had gone swimmingly for the side selected from and sponsored by the Spire Seoul Touch Championship.

The quality of the opposition was quite mixed so it was difficult to judge Seoul's progress since last year. However, our presence once again at one of the big international tournaments will encourage more teams from overseas to our International Touch Seoul tournament on 20th September this year.

NZ V Wales...in Korea

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4012593.stm
Does anyone have photos?

Korea Rugby competes well at Incheon

Despite finishing the first half 29 points to nil behind a strong Japan team, Korea clawed their way back and "won" the second half, the final score being 17-39. Per a previous posting, this can be considered a real victory and the Korean players now plying their trade in Japan had a big hand in that! Japan was boosted by players who qualify under the residency rule, especially in key poisitions in the backs.

The match has been covered by ESPN and Star Sports and should shown next week (maybe Tuesday) and in the meantime, expect more coverage in this blog before then...
In the meantime, here are some comments elsewhere.. http://uk.reuters.com/article/rugbyNews/idUKHKG34448920080426

Korea "notoriously closed when it comes to rugby"

That's the view from Japan on the eve of today's match between the two nations. And it would be hard to disagree with the diagnosis or with the conclusion that it is this closure to the outside world that is limiting development of the sport on the peninsula. Japan, in contrast, have embraced the outside world and have gone from strength to strength, yet just 10 years ago it was hard to seperate the two. Now, what will be the points difference? Anything below 50 would be considered a victory for Korea. Long gone are the days when victory itself would be the goal. For more from Japan http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20080425TDY27301.htm

Having said that "Go Korea" today!!!!

Seoul sends Touch team to Hong Kong

This weekend it is the Hong Kong Intercities Touch Championship and Seoul is sending a team sponsored by the Seoul Touch championship. "Seoul Globetrotters" is made up of players represented in the Spire Seoul Touch Championship and the team was selected "on merit" largely (subject to availability too!). Wish the girls and boys well and for more info on the tournament, check here http://www.hkrugby.com/hkrugby/touch-and-tag/activities.cfm

Joongang Daily covers Touch Rugby in Seoul

This week's Seoul Touch session was covered by the Joongang Daily, a leading English language newspaper in Korea. It highlighted the differences between Touch and Rugby as well as emphasising the dynamism of the sport and the fact that it is open to men and women, Koreans and foreigners.
Great picture too!
Check out the full article here http://http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2888969

International Touch Seoul 2008 international touch rugby comes to Seoul

Wales v Korea - Hong Kong Rugby Sevens 29/03/08

HSBC Asian 5 Nations Japan National Team

TOKYO (April 4) – John Kirwan named 10 uncapped players Friday in his 30-man squad for the Asian Five Nations.Seven forwards and three backs, including the Kiwi pair of Shaun Webb and Ryan Nicholas, will get their first taste of international rugby in the new tournament that kicks off on April 26 when Japan takes on South Korea in Incheon.The other uncapped player in the backs is Sanyo Wild Knights scrumhalf Fumiaki Tanaka, who has previously played for Auckland Under-19s.The forwards show a number of changes from the squad that went to the 2007 Rugby World Cup, partly as the result of injury (to Phil O’Reilly and Luke Thompson) and international retirement (Yasunori Watanabe).Tanaka’s Sanyo teammate Ryu Koliniasi Holani has been included after committing himself to Japan (where he was educated) ahead of Tonga (the land of his birth).Suntory Sungoliath lock Koji Shinozuka is also named, a year after a serious knee injury ruined his chances of going to the World Cup.Another player back from injury is flyhalf James Arlidge, who won his first cap against South Korea last year only to see his World Cup hopes disappear as the result of a broken leg he suffered playing against the Classic All Blacks.With only four of the players in their 30s, Kirwan hopes that he can build on the progress made since he took over a year ago, while at the same time look ahead to the future.Takuro Miuchi, Japan’s captain at the last two World Cups, is the most experienced member of the squad with 40 caps.

Ooooff! Korea juniors stuffed by Uruguay

Sounds like a lack of experience did for Korea's kids in Chile as they crashed heavily to Uruguay. Spilling posession too often meant they coughed up opportunities for one of the tournament's hopefuls who duly obliged in an eleven tries to one festival of rugby.

More info and food for your prayers http://www.irb.com/jwrt/news/newsid=2023099.html#uruguay+korea

This is where hooking up Korea's schools with overseas competition makes a lot of sense, it lets them know what they may face when they enter "the real world". Last year, Pai Chai travelled to Japan and turned over Waseda, that was a good start. This needs building on; a repeat of Eton's trip here in 2004 or King Edwards a little earlier or the possibility of Korean schools going overseas would help a lot. UK schools would be happy to host if sponsorship could be found and the late August pre-season slot would be perfect timing for everyone.

Japan 外国人 (Gaejin) XV

The team Japan will bring to Incheon is managed by Kiwis and stacked with "residency-qualified" players; Kiwis, Tongans etc. All good stuff and absolutely within the rules...but it will be a sharp shock for Korea who have so far shunned almost any outside support or influence.

Another thing that the Japanese team will boast is a large and professional and qualified support staff...a far cry from anything the home side will have thrown together. Again, what reaction will this prompt within the KRU? Do they care enough about the sport in Korea and the honour of the national team? If they do, then we should see egos being put aside and a real collective commitment to a long term development plan.

Come on guys!

The Past, Present, and Future of Rugby (and Touch) in Korea

Royal Frogs est nee

Un nouveau equipe de rugby, Les Royal Frogs, a ete nee ce mois. Cree par Louis Galtie et ses amis viennant du Lycee Francais de Seoul, le club a un cible d'etre le premier club du rugby juniors pour les etrangers.
Si ca vous interesse, n'hesitez pas de contacter Louis Galtié a louis.galtie@gmail.com

Incheon Munhak Stadium

How to get there:

http://incheon.go.kr/inpia_en/servlet/html?pgm_id=INPIA_EN000023
http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/304
http://210.90.99.1/warp/en/en_05_05_02.html

- Direction
: (by subway)

1. At the Incheon International Airport, take a zwaseok bus No.300, get off at Gyesan bus station, transfer to the Incheon subway line 1 at Gyesan Station, then get off at Munhak Stadium Station.

2. At the Incheon International Airport, take a zwaseok bus No.111 or an airport limousine bus, get off at Incheon Terminal bus station, transfer to the Incheon subway line 1 at Incheon Terminal Station, then get off at Munhak Stadium Station. (It's 10 minute walk from Incheon Terminal.)

3. Take a Gyeongin Railway, transfer at Bupyeong Station to Incheon subway line 1, then take off at Munhak Stadium Station.

: (by bus)

1. Take a sinae bus No.6, No.13, No.27, No.63, or No.64

2. Take a maeul bus No.515, No.522, or No.523

3. Take a City Tour Bus : Incheon City Tour Bus starts at Songdo Amusement Park at every hour on the hour from 10 a.m., routing Incheon Landing Memorial Hall, Neungheodae, Aamdo, Songdo New City Public Information Center, Incheon Dohobucheongsa(office building), and Munhak Stadium. The bus departs at Munhak Stadium at every 55 minutes( The first bus 10:55a.m.). The bus fares are; for one ride, adult ￦1,000, youth ￦500, children ￦300. for a daily freepass, adult ￦2,500, youth ￦2,000, children ￦1,000.

4. Take a express bus : Take a express bus to the destination of Incheon Terminal. Then take a subway at Incheon Terminal Station, and get off at Munahk Stadium Station.

: (by car)

1. From Kimpo Airport, take the Seoul Outer Circulation Highway toward Incheon, Pangyo direction, transfer to the 2nd Kyeongin Highway at Jangsu IC, then get out at Munhak IC.

2. From Incheon International Airport, take Incheon International Airport Expressway, take the Seoul Outer Circulation Highway toward Incheon, Pangyo direction, transfer to the 2nd Kyeongin Highway at Jangsu IC, then get out at Munhak IC.

3. From Incheon International Airport, take Incheon International Airport Expressway, transfer to the 1st Kyeongin Highway at Bukincheon IC, drive till the end, transfer to the 2nd Kyeongin Highway, then get out at Munhak IC.

(sorry, most of the directions are not from Seoul)

Korea v Japan details

26 April (Sat) 2008, 2pm, Korea/Japan, Incheon Munhak Sports Complex (World Cup Stadium but not the main one)
If you know how to get there, please add that in the comments section....

Touch used to teach rugby sevens

Who begat who? Touch became the teacher last weekend on the IRB Sevens circuit as the Boks apparently used some Aussie Touch expertise to help them beat the Kiwis....
Check out the story here http://http://www.supersport.co.za/rugby/article.aspx?id=250423

Korea "pretty awful" in Hong Kong

I didn't make it to the Sevens in Hong Kong but I did hear that Korea were "pretty awful" or "dreadful" despite a bright start in their opening mtach. Frankly, the writing was on the wall already last year with a pretty feeble display ending with a defeat to Hong Kong....

Does this give us any indication of Korea's prospects in the real game....it is just two weeks to go before their showdown with Japan on the 26th April....more on that soon.

Meanwhile, how bad does it have to get before the "old farts" give up their politicking and instead, put away old differences and concentrate on building for the future. Some hope!

Han River Pirates season starts

The Han River Pirates celebrated their 3rd anniversary with a "Patrons and Sponsors Dinner" on Saturday night and then were up early, bleary-eyed, the next day to start their new season . Cajoling 39 enthusiastic Touch players into organised coaching groups is not easy if you haven't been prudent the night before!

This is the seventh session since the formation of the club and the attendance at the end of the last season was up to 60-70 kids each weekend. The split is roughly 80% foreigners and 20% Korean and coaching is in both languages. It is all a far cry from spring 2005 when just nine kids came to the first training!

The age range goes from 6-17 years with the biggest group at about 8-12 years. Of course, boys and girls play on an even footing because the primary sport played is Touch. Occassionally Tag has been played and last year, rugby was tried by some of the older boys.

For info on the times, location etc, please check out this link;
http://www.expat-advisory.com/south-korea/seoul/touch-rugby-kids-seoul.php

Amateur foreigners...

Here's where you can ply your rugby trade...
Ladies; Seoul Sisters http://www.ssrfc.com/
Gentlemen (hem hem); http://www.survivorsrfc.com/

A mother's Touch....

.....or should that be, Touch for mum's?

Anyway, the Touch for mum's that was piloted last year is about to re-start....interested Mum's should contact Nat nathallemans@yahoo.ca
This is a great way to get fit and hype up your social life, ladies! Who knows, next you could be playing in the Korea Touch championships?