South Korea Rugby Union Asks Samsung to Maintain Its Rugby Club

The South Korea Rugby Union has asked Samsung Heavy Industries to "maintain its rugby club, one of Korea's three semi-professional rugby teams," according to Nam Hyun-woo of the KOREA TIMES. KRU VP Won Jong-cheon said, "Disbanding Samsung Heavy Industries Rugby Club is a prelude for the collapse of Korean rugby. Korean rugby is led by three semi-professional clubs -- Samsung Heavy Industries, Korea Electric Power Corporation and POSCO Engineering & Construction. If one of the three pillars is pulled down, a disaster for the sport here is inevitable." Rugby "insiders say that if the club is disbanded, other teams will likely follow, because the league cannot continue with only two teams." The KRU's move comes amid speculation that Samsung Group "plans to disband several sports clubs it owns, following a series of moves to streamline its business units." Earlier this week, unnamed Samsung officials said that the group was "reviewing the disbandment of its rugby, tennis, athletics and badminton clubs" (KOREA TIMES, 1/7).