Touch continues Saturday mornings in Yongsan Family Park

....at least until the rain makes it untenable....keep coming down and beat the suicide month!

Seoul Touch legend bows out...

Four years ago when Duncan Cole arrived in Seoul, Touch was being played occassionally and erratically along the banks of the River Han. Of course, the Seoul Survivors were playing as part of their training and other groups of Touch-minded individuals were running out around the peninsula and there was even the occasional tournament. But no real continuity.....

When Mark Lamb pulled a hamstring in a two-on-two session (turnouts could be quite small those days), Duncan took up the reins, cajoling, organising and harrying players to drag themselves out, early on Saturday mornings to play. Thise were not the only essential skills Duncan had to display; he was famous for arriving each morning with another bag of sand to fill in pot holes on the pitch next to Hannam Bridge. There is some suspiscion this may have cause subsidence in Itaewon! His diplomatic skills were stretched too, in the endless negotiations with the local authorities on the use of their precious grass.

It was the problems in obtaining a reliable place to play, one where the fate of nations did not seem to be at risk, that led to the foundation of the ITS tournaments in 2006....a chance to open a dialogue with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Duncan did need some persuausion to go for the grand design that became ITS....and his leadership in it's formation and execution was critical.

Meanwhile, playing numbers continued to grow and in 2007, an attempt was made to form a league with Duncan duly leading his Hangang Exiles team to victory. He also took his team on their first international outing, to Hong Kong's Inter Cities tournament in May 2007.

Things went from strength to strength, this years Spire Touch Championship has seen three tournaments in Korea, with more scheduled for later in the year.

Despite this being a holiday season, on his farewell run, a normal crowd of about 40 players turned out for a run, a BBQ, a couple of beers and to send him off.

Duncan leaves Touch in Korea on a firm foundation and a legacy that we have to protect....his commitment to exposure of the sport has been rewarded....our loss is Libya's gain!

June 21 Touch Tournament Gumi Thanks

June 21 Touch Tournament Gumi Thanks

Waegook Cook and the Waegook Cook Rugby Teams want to thank everyone who attended our first tournament. As expected there were a few glitches, but overall everything went very well and everyone seems to have had a great time. Congratulations to Te Wai Pounamu on their victory and the all the teams for their valiant efforts and good sportsmanship. The teams all played well and we got some great action shots. We apologise for the confusion with the bus stops and the Royal Frogs having to combine with other teams. We will work hard to eliminate these problems before the next tournaments in Gumi.

We want to thank:

All the teams
Supporters
Referees
Scorer
Wietsche and Conrad for volunteering their free services as refs
Band - Crying Foxes
Cheerleaders and Medics - Renier and Stephanie
Bus drivers and Craig's Weon Jang Nim for transporting the people
Waegook Cook Staff especially Sugi and Noona
The girls who helped with the preparation, orders, tickets and serving the food
Keith, Martin, Conrad and all the Waegook Cook Players who helped marking the field
Everyone who helped setting things up and cleaning up
Evan and the truck drivers for transporting equipment
Craig for creating the videos, maps, announcements etc
Willie and Craig for the management of e-mails and communication
Gary, Denise, Carina and others for preparation of the hot dogs
Michael and helpers for the team registration
Keith, Kim Yeong Bong and Lee Yeon Hee for organizing the tents, PA etc

A special thanks to:

Barnaby, Jeremy, Olivia, Selwyn, Megan, Mel, team captains and all the others not from Gumi for all the administration
Everyone else I might have left out but definitely appreciate.

It was a big team effort and without all the effort and support by everyone this tournament could not have been such a success. We support Suwon Stormers in their upcoming tournament and we are looking forward to the ITS Tournament.
We will see you up in Suwon and Seoul and hope to have everyone back here in Gumi and at Waegook Cook next year.

Be sure to check to the pics in the links below.

Great People make Great Times !!!

Thanks

Derrick & Sugi
Waegook Cook
(054) 444 - 3775

Links:
Web Site:
http://www.waegookcook.com/rugby.html

June 21st Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waegook/sets/72157605749356727/

Facebook:
Profile
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=557346874
Event
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=14630648194

Touch Rugby Blogs:
http://touchtagrugby.blogspot.com/
http://rugby.waegookcook.com/wordpress/

Sign up for Touch rugby in Suwon

Suwon Stormers plan to host a Touch rugby tournament on August 9th down their way...contact Patrick on paddykanu@gmail.com

Congratulations Te Wai Pounamu, winners of Waegook Cook Gumi tournament

With the Survivors away, TWP stole a march on their closest rivals as the Spire Korea Touch Championship went "on the road" last weekend. Eight teams took part in (as far as we know) the biggest Touch tournament held "down south". Shrugging off poor weather, the teams put on a display of scintillating touch, egged on by the exquisite cheerleaders (I am told!). Afterwards, it was back to hosts Waegook Cook bar and restaurant for the awards ceremony and a big party. This was the third tournament in the 2008 championship, the latest results will be posted soon.

This is a significant step forward for Touch in Korea and it is unlikely to be the only tournament outside the capital. Inspired by what they have seen, Suwon Stormers are keen to put on their own show in August...could be a good warm up prior to "the big one", ITS 2008 which will be held on Sept 20th at the Korea Military Academy, Taerung in NE Seoul.

Also bubbling under is the plan to take Touch to the masses. Of course, some schools already play as part of their rugby training. However, in July, a new experiment with extra-curricular Touch is being piloted. And there are more plans for that.

If you want to play, referee, adminstrate or coach, email seoultouch@gmail.com and if you want to get into International Touch Seoul, email internationaltouchseoul@gmail.com

Portal sites and blogs

This blog has been registered with Naver and Daum, which are the most popular portal sites in Korea. So if type "Touch Tag and/or Rugby (터치, 태그, 럭비 in Korean) " on the websites, you can search this blog, and now you can also find this blog on Google too!

If your native language is Korean, pls visit my Korean rugby blog!

http://blog.naver.com/rugby15

ITS 2008 Touch Rugby in Seoul!

Sign up now by emailing internationaltouchseoul@gmail.com or seoultouch@gmail.com

Keep adding your comments to the June 10 posting

Korea is a netizen democracy...it really does help!

Rugby and the Olympic Games

Pls read the articles and download the IRB's Olympic brochure first...
http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/news/newsid=2024836.html#rugby%20olympic%20games

http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/news/newsid=2024837.html#rugby+olympic+games

I cannot explain the entire Korean sport system here, but one of the reasons why rugby has been neglected in Korea is rugby is not an Olympic sport and the Korean government funding of sport is largely dependent on Olympic Games participation. According to their policy, the Korea Olympic Committee, Korea Sports Council, Korea Institute of Sport Science, etc support and focus mainly on Olympic sports.

If the sport of Rugby becomes an Olympic sport, it will bring a huge impact on rugby here in Korea.

In addition, if sevens rugby will be voted as the composition of the sports programme for the 2016 Olympic Games (explained why sevens should be the form of the sport in the articles), Korea will take advantage of the form of the sport because Korea has achieved tremendous results from sevens rugby.

Korea has won a total of two gold medals and one silver medal since the first rugby competition was held at the Asian games in 1998. Moreover, Korea has won Hong Kong Sevens plate championship five times and won over strong rugby countries such as Fiji and France.

Pls help IRB get Rugby in the Olympic Games!
It will start the ignition for the development of rugby in the world as well as Asia and Korea.

Japan stunned Tonga in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup

Japan stunned Tonga in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup, beating the islanders 35-13 at Sendai City's Yurtec Stadium for their first victory in the tournament.
This result is also a very inspiring result for Korea because Tonga is the country we have to beat in order to participate in the RWC.

Up until now Japan has been the only participating country representing Asia, and Korea always had a play-off against Tonga to take the repechage place but never succeed yet.

Here is another inspiring result. In 2000 U-19 Rugby World Championship, the Korea U-19 team made its maiden debut in the international stage for fifteens rugby. They beat the Czech Republic, Poland, and Tonga but lost to Samoa at the final of the B-group(low 16 ranking team). Although we lost the final match, people there were totally shocked due to the unexpected result and because they only saw the Korean sevens team before.

Most of the U-19 members are now playing for Korea.

If we keep striving hard to work on our development program, our dream for the RWC will come true soon!

Please put your comment on the June 10 posting!

We need to have as many comments from as many people there as possible to show support for the provision of a proper place to play Touch and rugby in Seoul.
This matter has already been raised even before the closure of Yeoido was announced and Mayor Oh, Seoul Global Center and advisors to Lee Myeong-bak are all aware of the importance this facility carries to our community. What they don't know is how many people that is and how strongly they feel....
Please put your comment and your contact email or number!

Hangang Exiles touch rugby rep visits India

Woojin has found lots to do but so far, NO Touch club? Shame!!!

Gumi Touch Tourny, 21st of June

For more information, pls contact...

Derrick Smith

Waegook Cook

011 546 3775

http://www.waegookcook.com/rugby.html

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=14630648194

Yeoido Rugby Pitch will be Closed

The hardest thing to do in Korea is to find a place to play rugby



Yesterday, I was going to write an article to say "We need your help to protect the Yeoido Rugby pitch" because the pitch is more frequently used for other public events than rugby, and its surface doesn't seem appropriate for rugby due to stages, cars, and tents on it.

However, I don't have to do it now since the rugby pitch will be closed in August, then a swimming pool will be built on it.

What a shame...!

As you probably know, the Yeoido is a great place to expose rugby to the public, so the KRU has planned to hold its tournaments there to make the public more aware of the sport. But a plan is nothing unless it is conducted or done, and now we even lost the chance.

Seoul Survivors, HRP, and other club teams have used the pitch for their practice, and the Seoul Touch Series have been held there. Moreover, we have planned to hold the touch tournament for Koreans and the touch rugby referee clinic before the ITS. But no more chance to do that there...

Do we have to wander again?

The Social rugby World Championships 2009

THE SOCIAL RUGBY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009

The inaugural Social Rugby World Championships kicks off in Cape Town, South Africa on 13 June 2009 and finishes on June 26th. With teams from across the globe, the tournament promises to be packed with great running rugby, good times, healthy competition and a great many new friendships being formed.

The groundbreaking Social Rugby World Championships – coinciding with the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa in June/July 2009 – will give 480 social rugby players (aged 18 - 39) the opportunity to realise their dreams and represent their country in a fun round-robin format tournament.

For more information, go to http://www.srwc2009.co.za/

Looking for a new coach!!

The Seoul Sisters RFC is looking for a new coach. We practice on weekends and tour to other parts of Asia for games. We are looking for someone who will be dedicated, knows the game, and speaks English. If you are interested, contact Amanda Joyce at ae.joyce@gmail.com or send a text to 010-7263-1763.

HSBC A5N Highlights

Edited by Mr. Lee

New President of Han River Pirates Touch and Tag Rugby Club elected

Congratulations Rex Duncan...come out from behind the hand and take a bow!

Last years model(s)

Here is the gang that promoted the ITS 2007 all around Korea from Paju to Okpo.....they'll be back this year and keen to visit your town to hand out posters and talk up the ITS 2008 tournament...

Organisation underway for ITS 2008

If you are interested in getting involved, ITS 2008 organisation is underway for the big tournament on Sept 20. The committee is kicking off with a meeting tonight so if you want to organise, play, enter a team or referee...email seoultouch@gmail.com

Visiting Twickenham in 2003

After the 2003 Rugby World Cup, I visited London, England. At the subway station, I could feel "rugby."
Take me to the Twickenham Stadium pls...
RFU

Rugby Museum Entrance


Stadium tour start! but I couldn't understand what he said at all. :(

Rugby statues

Found the KRU emblem!

The interesting thing is the guy wearing suit was the referee.

Locker room