Players Reflect on Historic 1987 Rugby Match Between Cornwall and South Korea

The Cornwall rugby team boasts a rich and storied past, having participated in over 25 international fixtures since its first encounter with New Zealand in 1905. On December 6, 1987, Cornwall played against South Korea in a game that left a lasting impression on both squads. Individuals who took part in that match have recently shared their memories with BBC News. December 1987 was a significant month for South Korea, extending beyond the rugby field. Ten days after the match, held at the Redruth Recreation Ground, the nation conducted its first democratic presidential election in 16 years. This event marked the beginning of a transformation, as the country began to adopt a US-style democracy following an extended period of Cold War isolationism. Cho Sung-chul, South Korea’s full back for the game, expressed his excitement, stating: “Obviously I was quite thrilled about going to the home of rugby.” At that time, only a very limited number of South Koreans were granted permission to travel internationally. Mr. Cho recounted that the anticipation of visiting England was “so overwhelming” that he found it difficult to sleep the night before the match, adding, “that’s how excited I was.” Mr. Cho, who represented the national team for approximately 10 years, mentioned that despite having played in the Hong Kong Sevens, the Cornwall match was one of the initial opportunities for the team to compete in Europe or against European players. Even though his team lost the game 39-13, Mr. Cho described it as “immensely beneficial for our team – personally I learnt a great deal from the experience.” Grant Champion, Cornwall’s inside centre and captain, recalled that the South Koreans employed a distinct, more expansive style of rugby than his teammates were accustomed to. He observed: “They relied more on broken play and improvised rugby than first phase, second phase running the ball.” Mr. Champion noted that South Korean rugby was in its “heyday,” with the 1980s considered a golden era for their team, which led to modest expectations from the Cornish side. He added that the Cornish team was evolving into a “far better side” with a “strong pack,” and that it marked “the start of a golden patch for Cornwall Rugby, so we met them at the right time.” He further commented on the significance of the occasion: “It was always an honour, [but] to play against a national side and captain your county; well, it doesn’t get much better down here.” Phil Westren, a former player and now the media officer for the Cornish Pirates, attributed the organization of the game to the vision of John Kendall-Carpenter, a Cornishman and retired England captain. Westren stated: “We were really lucky to have a person like him who wanted to bring quality rugby, and different types of rugby, from different countries to Cornwall for the players to play against and the supporters to see – it was fantastic.” South Korea subsequently hosted the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and made an unsuccessful attempt to introduce rugby as an Olympic sport that year. Choi Jae-sub, vice president of the South Korea Rugby Union, acknowledged that rugby continues to receive less public support compared to other sports, but emphasized that the impact of their inaugural European match endures to this day. He affirmed: “We still play well and try to enhance the performance level.”