"I've tried both soccer and basketball, but rugby is the most fun." Boys aged 14 and 13 who dreamed of becoming Air Force officers or firefighters fall in love with the oval ball.

*This content was translated by AI.

"I've played soccer and basketball, but nothing is as fun as rugby."

The career paths of a boy who dreamed of joining the Air Force and another who envisioned becoming a firefighter changed completely after encountering an oval ball.

In Korea, rugby is classified as a niche sport. While it became an official sport earlier than soccer in some contexts and enjoys popularity worldwide—including in its birthplace England, other Commonwealth nations, Europe, North America, and Japan—it remains relatively unfamiliar in Korea.

In that sense, the "3rd OK Outman Rugby Academy" held on the 15th at Hanaglobal Campus in Seo-gu, Incheon, served as a precious opportunity for young sports enthusiasts to learn about rugby and meet potential friends. OK Financial Group eliminated all financial barriers by offering full free participation fees.

A total of approximately 150 student athletes from 11 domestic middle schools and sports clubs, along with Dubai Tigers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), gathered at the academy to interact with current players of the OK Outman Rugby Team and learn about rugby. Among them were promising young rugby players Kang Dong-woo (14) and Park Jong-jin (13, both from Baejae Middle School).

The two students who met StarNews here are one year apart in grade level, yet their journeys into rugby share similarities and differences. Second-year student Kang Dong-woo played baseball and track and field before picking up a rugby ball for the first time in sixth grade of elementary school. At a time when he was considering quitting sports altogether due to injury, a former track coach who had previously coached him recommended rugby.

Kang Dong-woo said, "At that time, I only knew the name and shape of the rugby ball. I didn't understand the rules or how the game was played. However, once I started playing, I quickly fell in love with it." He added, "I've tried many different sports. I've played soccer and basketball too, but nothing was as fun as rugby. Rugby isn't about one person being good; everyone has to work together. Cooperation is extremely important, and the strong bonds that form from that are wonderful."

Park Jong-jin, a first-year student and former basketball prospect, is just beginning to discover the fun of rugby. Although there are many rules he doesn't yet understand, the enjoyment has motivated him to search for videos online and study the rules himself. He also attended this academy because he wanted to learn more about rugby. Park Jong-jin smiled and said, "At first, I thought it was just a sport where you run while holding a ball, but once I tried it, it turned out to be different. You can outmaneuver opponents with steps or break through with strength. Those aspects were so much fun."

It wasn't that they were fearless from the start. Kang Dong-woo felt so nervous before his very first match that he even experienced vomiting symptoms. However, after bumping into others once and twice, fear transformed into confidence. Park Jong-jin too was initially scared of tackling opponents by throwing his body at them. But after physically engaging in contact once and twice, his fear also turned into confidence.

They also had to overcome parental opposition. Kang Dong-woo shared, "Both of my parents strongly opposed my decision. My father told me that unless I showed diligence beyond just skill, I should focus entirely on studying. My mother found it difficult to persuade. Unlike baseball, there are only four corporate teams in rugby, and if I couldn't join one of them, my future prospects might become difficult." He continued, "But after I earnestly requested their permission and demonstrated my dedication, they now trust me and support me greatly."

That effort is also recognized by coaches. Kim Jeong-min (43), head coach at Baejae Middle School, stated, "(Kang) Dong-woo is full of passion and has excellent athletic ability. His determination is very strong, and he possesses great rugby sense, sports sense, and physical awareness. If I may say so boldly, among current second-year players, he ranks among the top in the nation. Even compared to third-year players, there are aspects where he excels. He is a player who will grow significantly in the future."

Park Jong-jin, one year younger, has been playing rugby for less than a month. Despite being a highly anticipated basketball prospect with a height exceeding 180 cm and exceptional athletic ability, he had experienced injuries severe enough to require emergency room visits.

Head coach Kim Jeong-min explained, "(Park) Jong-jin was planning to quit sports and focus on studies. His parents also hoped he would continue playing sports, and he himself wanted to try other sports. So we suggested, 'Would you like to try rugby?' We started with a trial experience due to concerns about his injuries, but after seeing him work hard once he joined the rugby team, his parents' minds changed."

A one-year difference was also evident in how the two students approached the academy. Kang Dong-woo, who participated last year as well, said, "Last year, I learned the rules here and found rugby much more fun. This year, I focused on learning kicking techniques and picked up many detailed skills like 'impact,' which made it even more enjoyable."

In contrast, for Park Jong-jin, who was participating for the first time, the most important goal was to properly understand the overall rules of rugby. Kang Dong-woo advised his junior, "I hope you can get along well with friends from other teams and seniors. The senior players are excellent teachers, so ask them many questions and make these skills your own as much as possible, even if it feels bothersome."

In rugby, the meeting itself is special. Park Jong-jin said, "It's easy to meet friends who play baseball, soccer, or basketball at school, but there aren't many people who play rugby. Meeting everyone in one place like this is truly new and exciting."

The current reality of Korean rugby also centers on this point. According to head coach Kim Jeong-min, middle school students who genuinely want to try rugby and come seeking it out are still rare—only about one or two per year. While some start due to the practical advantage of university admission, many players who don't develop a genuine interest in rugby itself end up quitting when they reach college.

This is why expanding the thin player base and creating children who want to continue playing because "rugby is fun" is so important. In that regard, Kang Dong-woo and Park Jong-jin are welcome examples. Before discovering rugby, Kang Dong-woo aimed to attend the Korea Military Academy. Now, he has mapped out a concrete path: being selected for the youth national team in his third year of middle school, then progressing through Yonsei University, the Army Sports Promotion Team (Sangmu), corporate teams, and eventually the adult national team.

Student athletes who play rugby prioritize admission to one of four universities with established rugby programs: Yonsei University, Korea University, Kyung Hee University, and Dankook University. Consequently, the importance of academics is higher compared to other sports. This aspect also appeals to parents.

Kang Dong-woo laughed while saying, "It's not easy to do homework at home after training when I'm exhausted," but added, "I don't want to become an athlete with an empty head who hasn't studied." In reality, he maintains above-average academic performance in school.

Park Jong-jin also once dreamed of becoming a firefighter. However, he now aspires to attend either Korea University or Yonsei University, then progress through the Army Sports Promotion Team and corporate teams. If that path proves difficult, he has also planned to become a physical education teacher or coach to stay close to sports.

What is clear is that both boys picked up the rugby ball not because someone told them to, but because they tried it themselves and found it fun. They independently sought out the academy because they wanted to learn more about rugby and meet friends who share their passion.

This is precisely the significance of the rugby academy organized by OK Financial Group. Head coach Kim Jeong-min smiled and said, "I believe it's important for children to experience learning rugby through such academies and seeing corporate team players, thinking, 'I want to become like them.' Even after graduation, these experiences will be stories they share ten or twenty years from now."

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*This content was translated by AI.