Frank Hadden had encouraging words for the future of Korean rugby after conducting clinics for local schools in Seoul as part of the HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour’s ongoing activities in Korea this week.

Hadden and Ismail Kadir, Development Officer for ARFU (Asian Rugby Football Union), ran a Wednesday morning session for Daean Junior High School students at Ansan Wa~ Stadium, a day after conducting a clinic at Baekshin High School that also featured students from Dong Junior High School.

Korea is the latest stop on this year’s HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour as the country hosts Division I of the HSBC Asian 5 Nations at Ansan Wa~ Stadium, where Singapore take on Malaysia before Korea tackle the Philippines in Wednesday afternoon’s semi-finals. The third place playoff and final take place on Saturday afternoon.

“Korea is one of Asia’s strongest sporting nations as we’ve seen in the likes of football, golf and baseball, and I believe their national rugby team will again become one of the continent’s top sides,” said Hadden, Scotland’s coach at the last Rugby World Cup in 2007.

“The youngsters in Korea are athletic, strong, disciplined and know how to work hard, so the country should be excited about its future in rugby as the game grows across Asia.”

Matthew Deakin, President and CEO of HSBC Korea, was proud that the HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour was focusing on grassroots work with schools and local communities.

“A key focus for the HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour is spreading the game to new audiences,” Deakin said.

“The Coaching Tour has been very active in Korea this week and I was impressed by the quality of rugby in the training session. Having internationally renowned coaches like Frank Hadden inspiring local youngsters is one of the most effective ways of promoting the sport.”

The HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour is renowned for its work across the continent and since March it has already conducted clinics in countries as far apart as UAE in the Gulf, Sri Lanka in South Asia, Thailand in Southeast Asia, and Hong Kong and Macau in Greater China.

On Thursday, the HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour will visit the SOS Children’s Village west of Seoul and many of the youngsters will go on to watch Korea play on Saturday, with some also acting as mascots and flagbearers. On Friday, Korea Rugby Union officials will participate in IRB-certified courses.

The HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour will next visit Indonesia, which will host Division III on 22 and 25 June.

Following ongoing summer activity in Hong Kong, from August onwards the HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour will organise clinics to support the new HSBC Asian Sevens Series which will be held in China, Malaysia, Thailand and India.Frank Hadden had encouraging words for the future of Korean rugby after conducting clinics for local schools in Seoul as part of the HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour’s ongoing activities in Korea this week.