Korea Touch Season Finishes on High Note

By: Jeremy Burks

From: The Korea Times | Nov.17, 2008

The newly-dedicated touch and rugby facility in Jamwon played host to the final tournament of the Spire Korea Touch Championship on Saturday, crowning a wonderful year for this fledgling sport in Korea. In 2008, there were six tournaments and 200-odd matches in total amongst 20-odd teams. Tournaments have been held in Seoul, Gumi and Suwon.

``This is so much different from a couple of years ago when I was playing,'' commented Pascal Biannick-Leger, president of Spire Group, who sponsored this year's championship. ``We used to have just a few players turn out and were never sure we'd be allowed to even play; now I see a hundred men and women and all nationalities on a dedicated pitch.''

The resurgent Te Wei Pounamu had performed poorly in their last two tournaments as they brushed aside their closest rivals, the Survivors, in the autumn tournament finals. The return of playmaker Wade Broderick after an absence due to injury ignited the TWP team.

``It was good to be out there playing again instead of screaming advice from the touchline,'' said Broderick. ``And as our team forms the bulk of the Korean representative team going to the Shanghai international tournament later this month, we can be confident of our form.''

In the plate competition, the Hangang Exiles were defeated in overtime by visitors Waegook Cook, from Gumi. ``Legend has it that it was from this very field that we were exiled and so got our name,'' said Exiles skipper Guy Lynch. ``So we thought it was our day, but Waegook Cook have a lot of pace and we just couldn't hang on once we got to the drop-off.''

In Touch, when a match is undecided, it goes to a sudden death or a golden goal scenario in which both teams lose a player every two minutes until one team scores… the so-called ``drop-off."

With the domestic season nearly over, the Korea Touch organization is looking forward to a new year. ``We really have created a solid platform for growth,'' said Barny Hampson of Korea Touch. ``The tournament format has proven very popular so we'll stick with that next year.''

In addition to plans for adult Touch, childrens' Touch is performing well. Teams have been formed in Bundang and Ansan and on Sunday, The Daejon Dragons played host to the Han River Pirates in their regular autumn clash in Daejeon. ``Touch has a great future in Korea,'' said one of the coaches, Nathan Atkins. ``We'll keep going through the closed season and be ready for some competitive games as soon as the weather eases in the New Year.''

He went on, ``Touch is super for kids; it is essentially non-contact, so boys and girls can play together. It is all action, simple to learn but very fast and skilful. I hope we can get kids teams going all over Korea.''

``For anyone wanting to get involved in Touch, wherever they are in Korea, we are very keen to help get started,'' emphasized Hampson. ``Just email seoultouch@gmail.com and we'll offer any support we can.''