Lee Myung-geun (Korean: 이명근; born 8 April 1978) is a former international South Korean rugby union scrum half and current South Korea Head Coach.[1][2]
| Full name | Lee Myung Geun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 8 April 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | South Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb; 11 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Yonsei University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
editHe began playing at Yonsei University before playing for the Korean Armed Forces Athletic Corps during his compulsory military service. In 2004 he moved to Hong Kong to play for Hong Kong Cricket Club, winning the 2004-05 Hong Kong Rugby Club League.[3] In 2005 he moved back to South Korea to play for Samsung SDI in the Korea Rugby League.[4]
In 2007 he moved to Japan joining World Fighting Bull in the Top West League, although winning the league they lost in the promotion play offs. With the collapse of World Fighting Bull in 2009 Myung Geun joined Top League side Kubota Spears.[5]
Coaching Career
editAfter ending his playing career at Kubota Spears, he joined their coaching set up before moving back to South Korea to be Backs Coach at his former club Yonsei University.
In 2022 he was named as the Head Coach for South Korea ahead of the 2022 Asia Rugby Championship.[4] He also coached the South Korea Sevens side.[6]
Honors
editAs player
edit- Hong Kong Rugby Club League
- Champions: (1) 2004–05
- Top West League
- Champions: (1) 2007–08
- Top East League
- Champions: (1) 2012
- Runners-up: (1) 2011
- ARFU Asian Rugby Championship
- Asian Games
- Champions: (1) 2002
As coach
editReferences
edit- ^ "Lee MYUNG GEUN - Player statistics - Year stats - It's rugby". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Myung-geun Lee". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Just Happy to be Able to Continue Playing Rugby". 동아일보. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ a b Hinato (2022-01-04). "Lee Myung Geun nommé sélectionneur de la Corée du sud à XV". Asierugby (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "李明根 Player Profiles". Japan Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ Rugby, Asia (2023-04-21). "Korean Coach Excited by Challenger Series Rewards". Asia Rugby. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Japan take Asian Games Sevens title". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 2024-06-02.