Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Korea Touch gets good publicity again
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2010/02/26/201002260013.asp
Touch rugby ready for new season
Spring is in the air and for a bunch of expats and locals that means one thing -- touch rugby.
Enthusiasts have their first run-around on Feb. 27.
Natalie Hallemans says the strength of the sport in Seoul is its consistency. "Various sports leagues come and go, but touch is always on, baring the weather, every Saturday from March to November it's here."
The sport that was set up by a small group of expats four years ago continues to thrive and each year the player pool expands.
The head of the Korea Touch Association, Shane Lowndes, said organizers are looking to have about seven tournaments around the country this year. "We are going out to Incheon for the first time because of a growth of interest out there. We will also head down to Gumi at some point, which has become one of the most popular events on the touch rugby calendar," he says.
The majority of touch is played in Seoul by expats and a growing number of Koreans, but most Saturdays around the peninsula, small numbers of enthusiasts are keeping the sport alive in their own regions -- even as far away as Ulsan, in the south.
Natalie Hallemans says she's made lifelong friends through the sport. "It's a great way to meet people. I would encourage teachers, business people, anyone who's looking to socialize with other foreigners, to come along on a Saturday. We're very welcoming and you don't have to be part of an already established team."
Team's come together for the tournaments about every six weeks. The Three Alley Dutch Rudders, an all men's team, have dominated the season's standings for the past two years. Wade Broderick, 28, hinted recently that they may invite some female players onto their side. That could be good news for the Survivors, who typically run as second-best to the Rudders, but Broderick says no one should underestimate the quality of the experienced women players.
Broderick said it also makes sense in lieu of the international touch tournament in Seoul later in the year. "The trend we are seeing at all the international tournaments we go to is that generally the mixed competition is the strongest, and the teams always seem to have a lot of fun too. If we enter a mixed team at ITS this year, we'll have gelled together already," he explains.
Shane Lowndes said they've already secured the venue for ITS at the Korea Military Academy, in Taerung. And teams from Japan, China, and Hong Kong are confirmed for the September event.
The Korea Touch Association is also keen to see the sport grow among Koreans. The Han River Pirates, a group of local junior players, will continue their involvement this year and Lowndes said the KTA can help facilitate other groups that want to try the sport. For those who would like to know more about touch rugby head to Jamwon Rugby pitch in Apgujeong, Seoul on Saturdays at 10 a.m.
For more information, check out the website www.koreatouch.com or e-mail koreatouch@gmail.com
Living in Incheon and want to play touch on the weekend, but can't get into Seoul? E-mail incheontouch@gmail.com
To comment, e-mail mattlamers@heraldm.com; to contact the author, e-mail bridgettunnicliffe@hotmail.com -Ed.
By Bridget Tunnicliffe
Touch rugby ready for new season
Spring is in the air and for a bunch of expats and locals that means one thing -- touch rugby.
Enthusiasts have their first run-around on Feb. 27.
Natalie Hallemans says the strength of the sport in Seoul is its consistency. "Various sports leagues come and go, but touch is always on, baring the weather, every Saturday from March to November it's here."
The sport that was set up by a small group of expats four years ago continues to thrive and each year the player pool expands.
The head of the Korea Touch Association, Shane Lowndes, said organizers are looking to have about seven tournaments around the country this year. "We are going out to Incheon for the first time because of a growth of interest out there. We will also head down to Gumi at some point, which has become one of the most popular events on the touch rugby calendar," he says.
The majority of touch is played in Seoul by expats and a growing number of Koreans, but most Saturdays around the peninsula, small numbers of enthusiasts are keeping the sport alive in their own regions -- even as far away as Ulsan, in the south.
Natalie Hallemans says she's made lifelong friends through the sport. "It's a great way to meet people. I would encourage teachers, business people, anyone who's looking to socialize with other foreigners, to come along on a Saturday. We're very welcoming and you don't have to be part of an already established team."
Team's come together for the tournaments about every six weeks. The Three Alley Dutch Rudders, an all men's team, have dominated the season's standings for the past two years. Wade Broderick, 28, hinted recently that they may invite some female players onto their side. That could be good news for the Survivors, who typically run as second-best to the Rudders, but Broderick says no one should underestimate the quality of the experienced women players.
Broderick said it also makes sense in lieu of the international touch tournament in Seoul later in the year. "The trend we are seeing at all the international tournaments we go to is that generally the mixed competition is the strongest, and the teams always seem to have a lot of fun too. If we enter a mixed team at ITS this year, we'll have gelled together already," he explains.
Shane Lowndes said they've already secured the venue for ITS at the Korea Military Academy, in Taerung. And teams from Japan, China, and Hong Kong are confirmed for the September event.
The Korea Touch Association is also keen to see the sport grow among Koreans. The Han River Pirates, a group of local junior players, will continue their involvement this year and Lowndes said the KTA can help facilitate other groups that want to try the sport. For those who would like to know more about touch rugby head to Jamwon Rugby pitch in Apgujeong, Seoul on Saturdays at 10 a.m.
For more information, check out the website www.koreatouch.com or e-mail koreatouch@gmail.com
Living in Incheon and want to play touch on the weekend, but can't get into Seoul? E-mail incheontouch@gmail.com
To comment, e-mail mattlamers@heraldm.com; to contact the author, e-mail bridgettunnicliffe@hotmail.com -Ed.
By Bridget Tunnicliffe
Monday, February 15, 2010
Woojin Lee, Korea Touch Association's roaming ambassador!
Former KTA stalwart Woojin Lee, currently in Auroriville India, visiting Touch Singapore recently! Spread the word, Woojin!!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Youngnam Yu- Best XV in Japanese Rugby Top League
Youngnam Yu was appointed as one of the top 15 players in Japanese Top League although his team, Sanyo, lost again this year to Toshiba in the final. Can you recognize some players in the picture (Steven Bates, George Gregan, etc)?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Waegook Cook hosts rugby and touch opening party for 2010
Event: The Rugby and Touch Opening Party for 2010
What: Club PartyStart Time: Saturday, February 27 at 10:30am
End Time: Sunday, February 28 at 6:30am
Where: The Waegook Cook
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=283421289430&mid=1d39222G2ecb78aaG4be186cG7
What: Club PartyStart Time: Saturday, February 27 at 10:30am
End Time: Sunday, February 28 at 6:30am
Where: The Waegook Cook
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=283421289430&mid=1d39222G2ecb78aaG4be186cG7
Monday, February 1, 2010
Invictus; Korea rugby's chance to show the incredible power of the world's greatest team game
Invictus, the film about Mandela's endorsement of the S African rugby team has just opened in London (see pic above of the Webb Ellis cup at the UK launch). People who've seen it tell me that it is very good and that the rugby footage is excellent....wonderful as an introduction for rugby....and therefore an opportunity for the sport to better promote itself. The fact that the story itself is all about inspiration and unity is also very consistent....chance for Korea rugby to promote itslef through Invictus?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invictus_(film)
Korea in rugby's Asia Five Nations
the a5n fixtures for Korea in 2010 are as follows;
April 24 vs Hong Kong (away)
May 1 vs Japan (home)
May 15 vs Arabian Gulf (away)
May 22 vs Kazakhstan (home)
Venue:TBC
Winner: Auto qualification for RWC
Runners up: Playoff against South America (Uruguay) in July
April 24 vs Hong Kong (away)
May 1 vs Japan (home)
May 15 vs Arabian Gulf (away)
May 22 vs Kazakhstan (home)
Venue:TBC
Winner: Auto qualification for RWC
Runners up: Playoff against South America (Uruguay) in July
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