The Korea Rugby Association announced that the home game against the UAE in the '2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Championship (Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship, hereafter AREMC)' held at Incheon Namdong Asian Games Rugby Stadium on the 21st has concluded.

AREMC is the highest-level 15-a-side national competition in Asia organized by the Asia Rugby Federation, and the winning team of this tournament will earn the right to participate in the 'Rugby World Cup' finals to be held in Australia in 2027. In the 2025 tournament, Korea, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and the UAE will participate, competing in a round-robin format to determine the rankings.

Korea secured 5 points by winning 38-34 against Sri Lanka in an away game on June 13. Then, on June 21 (Saturday), in a home game against the UAE held in Incheon, the game was tightly contested throughout, with both teams exchanging points in a fierce back-and-forth battle. Korea maintained focus until the end and aimed for a comeback, but unfortunately lost 36-38 after a close contest.

Korea currently ranks first in the tournament standings (as of June 21) with a total of 7 points, combining the 5 points earned from the game against Sri Lanka and the bonus points from the recent UAE match. The final ranking and qualification for the World Cup finals will be determined in the last game against Hong Kong scheduled for July 5 (Saturday).

This match against the UAE was the first domestic game of the 2025 AREMC, held amid significant interest from fans. Despite the poor weather, about 1,000 spectators attended the stadium to support the national team, adding to the excitement of rugby. The audience cheered loudly throughout the game, boosting the players' morale, and in response to that support, the national team put on an energetic performance on the field.

In particular, this game showcased a blend of the veteran players' experience and the young players' enthusiasm, demonstrating teamwork. Despite facing strong pressure from the opponents, the team created several critical tries and defensive plays, earning applause from the crowd. Although the match did not end in victory, the fighting spirit and unity displayed until the end were sufficient to prove the national team's potential and growth capability.

The remaining match will be the final game against Hong Kong, scheduled for 3 p.m. on July 5 (Saturday) at Incheon Namdong Asian Games Rugby Stadium, which will determine the final standings of the tournament. The match against Hong Kong is expected to be another decisive stage held in front of home fans.

Korea Rugby Association President Shim Young-bok noted, "The national team players showed determination without giving up until the end, and all players devoted themselves selflessly for the team," and added, "We will do our best to achieve valuable results against Hong Kong on July 5 with the great support of the public." He further emphasized that "the warm support sent to the national team is certainly a great strength for the players" and urged continued interest and encouragement.

Meanwhile, this home game is being broadcast live with Korean commentary through the Korea Rugby Association's SOOP.

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