"We'll start by taking down Korea University": OK Uotman Rugby Club, which has built its toughness in Japan, set to compete at the National Sports Festival... "Medal hunt after two years"

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The OK Financial Group Uotman Rugby Club will compete as the representative of Gwangju Metropolitan City at the 107th National Sports Festival, embarking on a medal hunt after two years.

The Uotman Rugby Club is set to clash with Seoul's Korea University in the first match of the general division rugby event at the tournament, which opens on the 15th in Jeju.

Having won a silver medal at the 105th tournament in 2024, their second year as a professional team, the Uotman Rugby Club has set its goal for this tournament as winning a medal after two years.

To reclaim a medal, the club underwent intense training throughout the year. According to the club, they began with winter training in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, and Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, from January to February, followed by a specialized training camp in Osaka, Japan, in March. They then proceeded through a specialized training camp in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, practice matches against university teams, and an intensive training camp in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, before sharpening their tactical completeness in Yongin just before the tournament.

They also gained overseas competitive experience. In July last month, they played a test match against the professional team "JR West Railers" in Japan, suffering a narrow 26-29 defeat to assess their competitive feel. Based on such exchanges with Japanese professional teams, the Uotman Rugby Club is also promoting formal participation in Japan's "Top West" league as a medium-to-long-term goal.

Choi Yoon, Chairman of OK Financial Group, stated, "This is a stage where we will see the fruits of the sweat players have shed over the season," and urged, "Carrying the sense of responsibility as the representative of Gwangju Metropolitan City, I expect them to demonstrate the value of rugby by trusting their teammates in difficult moments and never giving up until the end."

A club official also reaffirmed their resolve, stating, "We will pour out our competitive form prepared through past practical experience to achieve a good result."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original