South Korea national rugby union team

History

It is unknown when rugby was first played in Korea. During the mid-19th century, European sailors are recorded as playing some of the earliest games in north east Asia, in ports such as Shanghai and Yokohama in neighbouring China and Japan, but it is unclear whether this occurred in Korea itself. However, it seems certain it had some presence by the mid-20th century. Korea was to become occupied by Japan, the main rugby playing nation of Asia, and it could well have been introduced then. In the amateur days, South Korea maintained a fierce rivalry with Japan.

After World War II, and later, during the period of the Korean War, the large influx of troops from Commonwealth countries cemented its presence. One legacy of this is that South Korean rugby has traditionally been strongest in the army.

However, South Korean rugby has a second string to its bow. The massive growth of the economy since the 1960s, meant that a number of Korean corporations were to set up company teams along the lines of those in Japan, and this has broken up the former dominance of the military.

South Korea made a failed attempt to have rugby union at the Olympic Games readmitted, when they hosted the games in Seoul. Roh Tae-woo, who was South Korean president at the time, had been a player. South Korea have emerged as an important rugby nation in Asia, since they won the Asian Championship in 1990.

Despite having never qualified for a Rugby World Cup (RWC), South Korea were represented in 1995 in South Africa, with Han Moon-soo refereeing the fixture between France and the Ivory Coast.

South Korea's peak, in regards to performances and achievements, are considered to be the 1980s. The team won the yearly Asian Rugby Tournament four times between 1982 and 1990, including three back-to-back tournaments from 1986–1990. Alongside the Asian Rugby Tournament, South Korea also won the inaugural rugby union and rugby sevens tournaments at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand. In all tournaments South Korea won, they defeated Japan, whom were the most dominant Asian rugby union team at the time and seven-time Asian Rugby Tournament winners. Between 1980 and 1990 Korea held a 4–3 record against Japan.

Kits

Kit suppliers

The kit supplier since 2021 is Pro-Specs.

Notable players include

• Lee Ken-yok
• Kim Yeon-ki
• Sung Hae-kyoung
• Kim Keon-young

Expatriate rugby

Expatriate rugby was first played in Korea in 1972. An expat team called the Seoul Wanderers were formed to give opposition to both the local university teams and stationed army teams. This team was made up of players from the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. The team was disbanded in 1976. However, the void caused by a lack of rugby was soon to be filled. In late 1977 Billy Cornett and Brad Handley got together and decided to form a new expat club – the Seoul Survivors. The club is still around today.

Other Expatriate clubs include the Busan Bandits Rugby Football Club (based in Busan), the Ulsan Goblins Rugby Club (based in Ulsan) and the Stars & Stripes Korea Rugby Club (based in Pyeongtaek).

Current squad

South Korea squad for the 2024 Asian Rugby Championship. Caps updated 23 May 2024.

• Head coach: KOR Lee Myung-geun

Notes

References

References

1. (14 May 2010). "On this day, May 14, 2010: Arabian Gulf beat South Korea in their final Test". [[The National (Abu Dhabi).
2. Bath, Richard (ed.) ''The Complete Book of Rugby'' (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 {{ISBN. 1-86200-013-1) p70
3. [http://wesclark.com/rrr/1924_olympics_2.html Rugby at the 1924 Olympics], retrieved 19 August 2009
4. [http://wesclark.com/rrr/famous.html Famous Ruggers by Wes Clark and others], retrieved 19 August 2009
5. "Han MOON-SOO | Stats | Records | Players | Rugby Database".
6. "PRO-SPECS X 대한럭비협회".
7. "The Club".
8. Hinato. (14 May 2024). "Le groupe sud-coréen pour l'Asia Rugby Championship 2024".