OK Outman Rugby Team Shares 'Real Rugby' with Over 150 Young Talents... '3rd OK Outman Rugby Academy' Concludes Successfully

*This content was translated by AI.

Over 150 young rugby talents from Korea and abroad gathered to share the joy and value of 'real rugby,' concluding a special two-night, three-day program.

OK Financial Group's OK Outman Rugby Team announced on the 19th that it successfully held the '3rd OK Outman Rugby Academy <Are You Ready to Meet Real Rugby?>' from the 15th to the 17th at Incheon Seo-gu Hanaglobal Campus.

This year's rugby academy saw participation from over 150 players and coaches representing 12 schools and organizations, including 11 domestic middle schools and sports clubs, as well as Dubai Tigers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While the academy began last year with only Korean middle school players, it expanded this year to include young talents active overseas, significantly broadening opportunities for exchange among participants.

Marking its third edition, this rugby academy was designed not only to foster technical growth but also to allow student athletes to naturally learn rugby rules, values, and the mindset required of a player.

On the first day, basic training in passing and kicking, along with theoretical and practical instruction on rugby rules, took place. Participants responded positively, noting that learning rules alongside actual game situations helped clarify previously confusing aspects. One participant shared, "I often found it unclear why fouls were called during games, but learning them by situation made it much easier to understand."

In the afternoon, practical rule training based on real-game scenarios and water gun-based recreation were held outdoors. Although rain began just before the recreation segment, students enthusiastically ran around with water guns in the downpour, fully enjoying the program. The unexpected rain became part of the fun, making this session the most warmly received of the day.

On the second day, the schedule included practical skill training such as tackling and contact drills, injury prevention and nutrition education, and a program reflecting on rugby's history and values. In the evening, players shared stories about their rugby lives during 'Harmony Night' with OK Outman Rugby Team members. One parent remarked, "It was great that the program even included essential injury prevention training for students who enjoy rugby."

On the final day, the 'OK Rugby Festival' was held, where third-year students played mini-rugby and first- and second-year students played tag rugby to apply the skills and rules they had learned. The two-night, three-day academy concluded with various rugby-based programs and an awards ceremony.

Corporate sponsorships supporting the growth of student athletes added significance to this year's academy. Hummel Korea provided prizes such as bags and apparel for participants, while Dong-A Otsuka donated water and ion drinks to ensure players could train steadily throughout the two-night, three-day event.

The OK Outman Rugby Academy is a talent development program designed to convey not only technical skills but also values of perseverance, cooperation, and sacrifice, as well as the 'No-Side spirit' of respecting opponents after matches, to student athletes who will lead the future of Korean rugby.

The first academy, held in August last year, allowed middle school players and coaches from across the country to experience basic skills, rules, and player management education domestically. The second academy, held in January this year, expanded its venue to Hanazono University in Osaka, Japan, enabling domestic secondary-level players to conduct joint training with local athletes and directly experience Japanese rugby culture.

This year's third edition returned to Korea, incorporating lessons from the previous two sessions and participant feedback. It strengthened rule education and grade-specific programs while adding exchange activities that allowed students from both domestic and international backgrounds to interact together.

Choi Yun, Chairman of OK Financial Group and owner of the OK Outman Rugby Team, stated, "Seeing the determined eyes of players who filled the venue with even greater passion despite the scorching heat reaffirmed once again the bright and promising future of Korean rugby." He added, "The sincere effort of 15-year-old Ha-yul, who traveled from afar to meet his Korean peers in rugby after enjoying the sport in distant UAE, made this an especially heartwarming experience."

Continuing, Choi (Chairman) said, "I sincerely hope that the academy provided a precious opportunity for participating students to grow one step further as 'true ruggerians,' internalizing the spirit of cooperation, perseverance, and respect for opponents beyond merely competing in skill."

A representative of the Outman Rugby Team remarked, "After concluding the academy, we received many responses from participants such as, 'It was great to properly learn rules that previously felt difficult,' and 'It was enjoyable to meet new friends who play rugby at other schools.' Since helping students better understand and appreciate rugby itself alongside technical training is a key goal of the academy, we will continue to develop programs by reflecting feedback from the field."

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*This content was translated by AI.