“Rugby King Returns!” … Busan Physical Education High School Rugby Team Wins National Rugby Championship High School Division

The Busan Physical Education High School Rugby Team, winners of the 75th National Rugby Championship High School Division.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Busan rugby, which dominated national rugby in the 1980s, has broken out of its slump and clinched the championship.

Busan Physical Education High School's rugby team won first place in the high school division at the 75th National Rugby Championship held on the 26th in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk.

The National Rugby Championship was hosted by the Korea Rugby Union and organized by the Gyeongbuk Rugby Association and the Gyeongsan Rugby Association.

The tournament was held from the 20th to the 26th over seven days at the Gyeongsan City Sports Park Rugby Field in Gyeongbuk, with 526 players participating in a tournament format, including 10 middle school teams, 11 high school teams, and 4 club teams.

At the tournament, Busan Physical Education High School's rugby team achieved its best result since its establishment in 2011 by winning the high school division.

Busan Physical Education High School's rugby team defeated Seoul Yangjeong High School 38-17 in the round of 16, Chungbuk High School 23-17 in the quarterfinals, and Daegu Sangwon High School 52-17 in the semifinals to reach the final.

In the final, they won the championship by defeating Seoul Sadaebu High School, who advanced by beating the home team Gyeongsan High School, in a fierce match with a score of 41-29.

Son Seung-woo, principal of Busan Physical Education High School, said, "Busan high school rugby boasted the best national strength in the 1980s, but afterward, it went through a long period of stagnation without notable achievements. I am proud of the players who showed the potential of Busan rugby at the tournament."

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education and the City Sports Council provide annual budgets for training and equipment purchases to support rugby, a sport that requires significant funding for team operations, as part of their policy to foster the sport.