"아우~!" and 한국럭비가 아시아의 자존심을 지켰다.

Lots of coverage and some pics from Hong Kong where Korea were not great...quarter finals in the plate....but now falling behind HK by some distance!!
The Chosunilbo Daily (Kim, Sangmin, 김상민)

http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/03/29/2009032900917.html

He is the guy who interviewed Yu Youngnam
http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/02/05/2009020501722.html

Joong Ang Ilbo/ Ilgan Sports (Jang, Chi-hyuk 장치혁)

http://isplus.joins.com/sports/generals/200903/29/200903291811005771010500000105080001050801.html

http://isplus.joins.com/sports/generals/200903/28/200903281916528276010500000105080001050801.html

http://isplus.joins.com/sports/generals/200903/26/200903260951383106010500000105080001050801.html

Han River Pirates touch and tag rugby club kicks off new season

The picture is from a while back but the news is fresh....each Sunday morning the Han River Pirates will play...mainly they play Touch but also tag rugby and some stay on for a bit of rugby.
They play 9:30-11:30 every Sunday morning at Jamwon and more info can be found on http://www.hanriverpiratesrugby.com/
This weekend saw 30-odd boys and girls playing and that will rise through the season...expect 40-50 to be the normal pool.
If Apgujeong is too far, how about Ansan or Bundang, both of which have Touch teams for kids. Or, if you want to set up Touch for kids, email koreatouch@gmail.com

Touch and Rugby Korea supported by BCCK

Some nice photos of a jolly old time at the BCCK rugby and touch in Korea night....great to see BCCK members and new friends having such a good time and (hopefully) committing their support to these two sports.
For photos http://bcck.or.kr/activities/photo_gallery.asp
And for a write up http://www.bcck.or.kr/newsletter/200903/06_eventHighlights.html

And good to see the Aussies showing up in full force!!

Touch in Seoul today Sat 28 March

Will be on Jamwon at 10:00....
(Same place as the tournament). See map on left or previous postings and driving south over Hannam Bridge, turn right following sign to Apgujeong Stn, the road curls around under you and heads east towards Apgujeong. Follow this road for 500m and then turn left between Sinsa Middle and Hyundai High schools and then at the end of the road turn left and in 100m turn right through the tunnel under the Olympic Expressway. The pitch is on your right, next to teh river.

International rugby in Korea 2009

Korea on the charge last year against Kazakhstan

Asia 5 Nations in 2009

Korea v Singapore April 25 Seongnam

Korea v Hong Kong May 9 Seongnam

Korean Rugby Presidents XV v England Counties FRIDAY June 5 Seongnam

Regular updates on times, locations etc will be posted here!!

More coverage for Touch Korea in Korea Herald

Dan Grover makes a break for the Survivors....

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/03/27/200903270068.asp

Wow, what a week for media...4 newspaper articles and two raio slots...nice coverage from the press and publicity team talking up Touch in Korea!!

And korea4expats cover Touch in Korea too!

http://www.korea4expats.com/news-touch-rubgy-korea.html

Korea Touch and Korea rugby quiz answers

1. Tonga
2. British Ambassador Martin Uden
3. Paichai ; YangChung High School
4. Twelve
5. Kiri Haggart
6. Amanda Joyce
7. Beijing
8. Seven
9. Nine
10. Number 22
11. Singapore, HK, England Counties
12. 1500, 100,000
13. 1923
14. Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hongkong, Kazakhstan
15. 1986
16. Korea Uni
17. Four

My current favourite video....why rugby is going to do Korea some good!

Just think of all those Korean TV ads with the oh-so-precious guys....

Korea Touch gets more good media coverage and makes the news on the Asian Touch Federation website

Nice report from Bridget Tunnicliffe in the Korea Times http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/03/177_41893.html

And on the ATF site
http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=14-4866-0-0-0&sID=65819

Wanted a Touch and rugby coach for Koyang(or Goyang)

Anyone interested in this role...coaching Touch and rugby to kids in English on a weekend? Please email koreatouch@gmail.com

Korea Touch Championships, thirsty work!

"What time does the Bungalow in Itaewon open?"

Royal Frogs triumph in the plate at Korea Touch Championship tournament

Check it out on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u2pZfj8i2I

Han River Pirates Touch and Tag Rugby for kids in Seoul 2009 season

Date Range: Every Sunday from 29 March to 31st May & 07 Sep to Nov 30th
Time: 09:30am – 12:00pm
Day: Sunday

More info from http://www.hanriverpiratesrugby.com/

Touch and Tag Rugby Clubs for kids also exist in Bundang, Ansan and more will follow. Email koreatouch@gmail.com for more info.

Quiz Time; How much do you know about Touch and Rugby in Korea?....from last night's British Chamber of Commerce in Korea Touch and Rugby evening

Check out your knowledge of Touch and Rugby in Korea.....the answers will be posted in a couple of days time

Q1. The Seoul Survivors currently have an ex-international rugby player in there team. Which country did he represent?
Q2. Name an ambassador that played for the Seoul Survivors.
Q3. There are Annual Rugby games in Korea. e.g. Korea Uni v Yonsei Uni, Kyunghee Uni v Dankook Uni, Navy v Air Force Academy.
But, between which high schools?
Q4. How many teams will play in the first Touch tournament of 2009 season this Saturday? And how many players (+/- 10)?
Q5. Who was is Miss December in the 2009 SSRFC calendar?
Q6. Which Seoul Sister is also a belly dancer?
Q7. What a tour to what Chinese city did SSRFC do the Miss Seoul Sister Pageant?
Q8. How many overseas teams came to International Touch Seoul 2008?
Q9. How many kids attended the first ever Han River Pirates training?
Q10. What position is Korea in the IRB rankings?
Q11. Which foreign teams will play rugby in Korea in 2009?
Q12. How many people do the KRU believe play rugby in Korea? And Japan?
Q13: When was Rugby first introduced to Korea? (hint 100 years)
Q14: Name 5 nations in A5N this year
Q15: What year did Cambridge Univ rugby team visit Korea?
Q16: What Korean rugby team has the longest history?
Q17: How many gold medals has Korean national team got in Asian Games?

Touch Korea gets coverage in Korea Herald and Korea Times

Korea Touch got some great coverage for its new season in the Korea Herald http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/03/18/200903180061.asp
and Korea Times http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/03/177_41489.html

Big turnout for next Saturday's Touch tournament in Seoul

Surely the tournament director won't drop the ball??

Seems we'll have 12 teams and a crowd too so with 140+ players, French fare and flair and lots of friends, family and fans.....will be a great day down at Jamwon, rain or shine....
First match kicks off at 11:00 so teams need to be down and signed up by 10:30...

For the map go here http://touchtagrugby.blogspot.com/2009/02/korea-touch-season-first-spire-korea.html (that is the Feb 24th posting).

Great picture of the Cambridge tour in 1986

Sangmu 15 (15-6) 15 Cambridge

Dongdaemoon Stadium

Prince Harry, ambassador for rugby, Korea would be a good place to visit!

Is there any way to persuade this guy to come? A big fan of rugby and Touch...he may grab the Korean rugby and Touch playing public!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7272546.stm
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/newsandgallery/gallery/prince_harry_plays_rugby_in_lesotho_1019510155_1581993853.html
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/prince-harry-is-england-rugby-teams-royal-mascot-for-world-cup-finals-against-safrica_1001137.html

Excitement builds for England Counties Korea rugby tour

See the following articles http://www.meltontimes.co.uk/sport/Rickie-Aley39s-England-rugby-aim.4966319.jp
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7894573.stm

http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk/news/England-Counties-set-Far-East/article-521950-detail/article.html

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/grassroots-news/2009/02/11/rugby-hodgson-hopes-for-luck-of-irish-72703-22895849/

http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-sport/rugby-union/2008/06/20/our-man-ben-is-hungry-for-more-59067-21107683/

Yonsei pip Korea Uni at rugby

Yonsei jump high in the lineout


Yonsei's fly half launches another attack

Tackling was ankle high most of the time...commitment intense!!

Look closely and you might suspect that the Korea Uni forwards superior ball handling that would have been enough to see them through against Yonsei in Saturday's big clash at Incheon. As it was, Yonsei, in front of a big crowd of more than a thousand excited spectators, finally edged clear despite a rather lacklustre performance. Both scrum halves had good games and appeared to be the liveliest players on the park. Yonsei full back was safe under the high ball but constantly made poor choices on the counter; cutting back inside and getting swamped. Despite this, it was an exciting game...Korean rugby is all sweeping moves and attack....you'd think you were in Narbonne not Incheon! Perhaps it is the very poor standard of kicking (place and from hand)...or is this a case of chicken and egg...that means they run everything? Anyway, if the KRU were a bit more forthcoming about when and where these fixtures were being played, the crowd would only get bigger! It isn't right to deny the public their chance to view such exciting fare.

Korea Touch rugby season starts well

About 35 people down for the pick up touch in Seoul and with a similar session being run in Gumi, things are starting well.....anyone wanting to play in Mokpo should also get in touch with koreatouch@gmail.com as it sounds like there may be some who want to kick it off down there!

Meanwhile, things are taking shape for the first tournament of the year, March 21, and as many as 12 teams have expressed an interest....rumours of Breton Crepes being frshly prepared for between match snacks and a sausage sizzle are probably true. Talking about the Royal Frogs, they are just back from a tour to NZ so we should expect them to hit the ground running!!

Sanyo Wild Knights won the 46th All-Japan Championship

Even though they finished this year's Top League as the runner-up, Sanyo Wild Knights won the 46th All-Japan Championship when they beat Suntory Sungoliath 24-16 at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground. Yu, Young-nam (Dankook Uni-Sangmu-Sanyo) became the first Korean player to win the trophy in Japan.

Our neighbours, Shanghai Touch, get a new website

Last year, Korea Touch and Shanghai Touch both attended each others tournaments and we hope that will continue this year. Every year, Shanghai have been building and now they have launched their new website. Check it out!!http://www.shanghaitouch.com/www.shanghaitouch.com/Welcome.html

Cambridge University Tour in Seoul 1986

I am very happy to find a valuable picture of the Cambridge Univesity tour to Korea in 1986.

Surprisingly, the final result was 15-15 "even though" the referee was from England :)

You can see how strong Sangmu team(Korean Army team) was...

Two members of Sangmu went to Japan for rugby and three members became the head coaches of Yonsei Univ, Kyunghee Univ, and Samsung respectively. One touch judge (left) is a former head coach of Korea Uni and the other is the head coach of the Korean National team while the head coach of Sangmu became a head coach of the Korean National team later winning 4 gold medals at the Asian Games.

I said in another post that we need more interactions with overseas teams and I hope such the interactions can bring aspiration for young rugby players in Korea.

Dreams are coming true!

Good News from Japan: the RWC in Korea?

On March 2nd, the JRFU held a press conference regarding its plans for hosting 2015/2019 the Rugby World Cup that may be first taken place in Asia. The Executive Director, Mr. Mashimo, said "We would like to host the RWC to spread the spirit of rugby and distribute the sport to the Asia region." "Therefore, the plans for Seoul or Hong Kong to possibly host some matches are now under consideration." he added.

Also, the JRFU is looking for a way to have other Asian teams in the Top League. It sounds possible to me since Ice Hockey, which has a simillar status as rugby in Asia, has started the Asian Ice Hockey League (Korea-Japan-China) for the development of the sport in Asia.

Mr. Mori, a former prime minister of Japan, is the chairman of the JRFU and Japan Sports Council; he played rugby for Waseda University.

The Defending Champion, Yosei Uni won the first match of the KRU Spring League

The defending champion Yonsei University won the first match of the KRU Spring League today, defeating Dankook University 42-10. They will play against its rival Korea University on this Saturday at Incheon Technical Highschool. Only three universities participate in the league, so it is going to be the final match... :(

Beijing host Touch tournament April 5 2009

Looks like Great Wall on Saturday and Touch on Sunday....contact beijingtouch@yahoo.com for more details....

Meanwhile, Korea Touch will be canvassing interest to see if we can raise a team....email koreatouch@gmail.com if you want to go and represent Korean Touch!

President Lee Myung‐bak mentioned "Rugby" in NZ

It may be too common for presidents to talk about rugby in other countries but it can be a news in Korea that the President of Korea mentioned rugby during his speech.

President Lee Myung‐bak visiting three southern Pacific countries said "it is well known that New Zealand has the world-best rugby team, All Blacks." "I assume that this is because of strong solidarity and team-work." "As the All Blacks have shown, let's continue our mutual cooperation and solid support for both contries to lead the green new deal and growth."

I am happy that he knows what the Korean society needs to develop and what we can learn from the sport. (I really want to say something...but...)

Come on Girls, Don't let the boys have all the fun!

Attention all ladies,

The Amici Group HK are hosting an event especially for you ladies during the HK 7's week! We have decided that there are too many events in Hong Kong that week for the boys, so we thought it was time for the ladies to have the focus and attention.

This glamorous event, which will be held in The Living Room at the prestigious W Hotel in Kowloon, will boast some International players that are taking part in the 7's, strutting their stuff down a runway in some hot undies. A few lucky ladies will even have the privilege of spending some time up close and personal with some eligible bachelors who will be auctioned off for charity and if you don't win the man, there is always the chance to go home with a sparkling diamond!

There are many more surprises in store, free flowing champagne and canapés.....this event is just for you ladies, it's all about Bubbles, Boys and Bling!

Please see the attached flyer for details.

For tickets or more information contact:

Antony Phillips

email: antony@theamicigroup.com

Cell: (+852) 6698 4383

Electronic Bank Transfers are available, please contact Antony for the Account details

Cheques made payable to The Amici Group HK Ltd, can be sent to:

Suite 1204,

Kinwick Centre,

32 Hollywood Rd,

Central,

Hong Kong