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South Korea national rugby union team

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The South Korea national rugby union team, (Korean: 대한민국 럭비 유니언 국가대표팀, romanized: Daehanminguk reogbi yunieon gukga daepyo tim) recognised as Korea by World Rugby, also known as the Mugunghwas, represents South Korea in men's international rugby union. South Korea has yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup (RWC).

Korea
Shirt badge/Association crest
EmblemThe Mugunghwa[a]
UnionKorea Rugby Union
Head coachLee Myung-geun
CaptainLee Jin-kyu
Most capsBack Kwang-soo (26)
Top scorerOh Youn-hyung (98)
Top try scorerJin-wook Lee (13)
Home stadiumIncheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Field
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current33 (as of 12 August 2024)
Highest21 (2004)
Lowest34 (2011)
First international
Taiwan 15–9 South Korea 
(Tokyo, Japan; 8 March 1969)
Biggest win
 South Korea 135–3 Malaysia 
(Seoul, South Korea; 23 September 1992)
Biggest defeat
 Tonga 119–0 South Korea 
(Nukuʻalofa, Tonga; 21 March 2003)
World Cup
Appearances0
Medal record
Men's rugby union at the Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Bangkok Team
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Team
Websitewww.rugby.or.kr
Old logo
Men's World Rugby Rankings
Top 30 as of 11 November 2024[1]
Rank Change[i] Team Points
1 Increase1  South Africa 092.46
2 Increase1  New Zealand 091.21
3 Decrease2  Ireland 090.58
4 Steady  France 086.96
5 Increase1  Argentina 085.60
6 Increase1  Scotland 082.70
7 Decrease2  England 082.62
8 Increase1  Australia 081.14
9 Increase1  Fiji 080.07
10 Decrease2  Italy 078.67
11 Steady  Wales 075.04
12 Steady  Georgia 074.10
13 Steady  Samoa 072.68
14 Steady  Japan 072.31
15 Steady  Portugal 068.82
16 Increase3  United States 067.49
17 Increase1  Spain 067.10
18 Decrease2  Tonga 066.87
19 Decrease2  Uruguay 066.58
20 Steady  Romania 062.62
21 Steady  Chile 061.60
22 Steady  Canada 060.81
23 Steady  Hong Kong 060.40
24 Steady  Russia 058.06
25 Steady  Namibia 057.87
26 Increase4  Brazil 057.40
27 Decrease1  Netherlands 057.28
28 Decrease1  Belgium 056.51
29 Steady  Zimbabwe 056.33
30 Decrease2   Switzerland 056.04
  1. ^ Change from the previous week
Source: World Rugby[1]
Graph updated to 11 November 2024

Korea reached the repechage round of qualification for the 1999, 2003, and 2007 Rugby World Cups, being eliminated by Tonga each time. In qualifying for 2011, South Korea lost every fixture, with its closest match coming against the Arabian Gulf.[2] For 2015, South Korea finished third in the final round, missing qualification directly and to the repechage phase. Similar to 2015, South Korea missed direct or indirect qualification to the Rugby World Cup for both 2019 and 2023. In 2022 South Korea lost to Hong Kong by two points, failing to advance to the repechage qualification play-offs.

History

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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.[3]

After World War II, and later, during the period of the Korean War, the large influx of troops from Commonwealth countries cemented its presence.[3] One legacy of this is that South Korean rugby has traditionally been strongest in the army.[3]

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.[3]

South Korea made a failed attempt to have rugby union at the Olympic Games readmitted, when they hosted the games in Seoul.[4] Roh Tae-woo, who was South Korean president at the time, had been a player.[5] South Korea have emerged as an important rugby nation in Asia, since they won the Asian Championship in 1990.[3]

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.[6]

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.

Notable players include

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  • Lee Ken-yok[3]
  • Kim Yeon-ki[3]
  • Sung Hae-kyoung[3]
  • Roh Tae-woo, 13th president of South Korea (1988–1993)[5]
  • Kim Keon-young

Expatriate rugby

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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.[7]

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

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

South Korean Squad[8]
Name Position Caps Club
Yang Keun-seob Loosehead Prop 0   Hyundai Glovis
Shin Ji-min 0   OK Financial Group Okman
Kim Tae-woo 0   Sangmu
Choi Ho-young Hooker 4   Sangmu
Lee Seung-eun 0   Hyundai Glovis
Park Gun-woo 0   OK Financial Group Okman
Park Ye-chan Tighthead prop 3   Hyundai Glovis
Won Jung-ho 2   Hyundai Glovis
Seo Tae-pung 0   Sangmu
Kim Sang-jin Lock 5   OK Financial Group Okman
Park Joon-beom 2   Hyundai Glovis
Lee Hyeon-je 0   Hyundai Glovis
Seo Jong-soo 0   Sangmu
Yoo Jae-hoon Back row 9   OK Financial Group Okman
Kim Yo-han 4   Hyundai Glovis
Hwang Jeong-wook 1   Hyundai Glovis
Kim Chan-ju 0   Hyundai Glovis
Yoo Gi-jung 0   OK Financial Group Okman
Heo Jae-jun Scrumhalf 0   Hyundai Glovis
Kang Min-jun 0   OK Financial Group Okman
Jung Bu-hyon Flyhalf 1   Hyundai Glovis
Ko Seung-jae 0   OK Financial Group Okman
Mun Jeong-ho Center 6   Hyundai Glovis
Lee Jin-kyu 0   Hyundai Glovis
Lee Yong-un 0   OK Financial Group Okman
Jeong Yeon-sik Outside Back 15   Hyundai Glovis
Shin Min-su 1   Hyundai Glovis
Kim Chan-deul 0   OK Financial Group Okman
Baek Jong-eun 1   Hyundai Glovis

Notes

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  1. ^ Korean: 무궁화

References

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  1. ^ a b "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  2. ^ Radley, Paul (14 May 2010). "On this day, May 14, 2010: Arabian Gulf beat South Korea in their final Test". The National.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ISBN 1-86200-013-1) p70
  4. ^ Rugby at the 1924 Olympics, retrieved 19 August 2009
  5. ^ a b Famous Ruggers by Wes Clark and others, retrieved 19 August 2009
  6. ^ "Han MOON-SOO | Stats | Records | Players | Rugby Database".
  7. ^ "The Club". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  8. ^ Hinato (14 May 2024). "Le groupe sud-coréen pour l'Asia Rugby Championship 2024". Asierugby (in French). Retrieved 21 May 2024.
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