Lee Myung-geun
{{short description|South Korean rugby union coach (born 1978)}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Lee Myung-geun
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Lee Myung Geun
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|4|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = South Korea
| height = {{convert|170|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|73|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school =
| university = Yonsei University
| relatives =
| occupation =
| spouse =
| position = Scrum-half
| years1 = 1997-2001
| clubs1 = Yonsei University
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| years2 = 2001-2003
| clubs2 = KAFAC
| apps2 =
| points2 =
| years3 = 2004-2005
| clubs3 = Hong Kong Cricket Club
| apps3 =
| points3 =
| years4 = 2005-2007
| clubs4 = Samsung SDI
| apps4 =
| points4 =
| years5 = 2007-2009
| clubs5 = World Fighting Bull
| apps5 =
| points5 =
| years6 = 2009-2014
| clubs6 = Kubota Spears
| apps6 = 38
| points6 = 10
| repyears1 = 2002-2006
| repteam1 = South Korea
| repcaps1 = 6
| reppoints1 = 15
| clubupdate = 2 June 2024
| repupdate = 2 June 2024
| coachyears1 = 2014-2015
| coachteams1 = Kubota Spears (Assistant Coach)
| coachyears2 = 2015-2022
| coachteams2 = Yonsei University (Backs Coach)
| coachyears3 = 2022-
| coachteams3 = South Korea (Head Coach)
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2002-2006
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 = South Korea
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 = 2
| ru_coachupdate = 2 June 2024
| ru_sevensupdate = 2 June 2024
}}
Lee Myung-geun ({{Korean|hangul=이명근}}; born 8 April 1978) is a former international South Korean rugby union scrum half and current South Korea Head Coach.{{Cite web |title=Lee MYUNG GEUN - Player statistics - Year stats - It's rugby |url=https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-sum-20598.html |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=www.itsrugby.co.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Myung-geun Lee |url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/player/297728.html |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=ESPN scrum}}
Career
He 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.{{Cite web |title=Just Happy to be Able to Continue Playing Rugby |url=https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20050518/241398/1 |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=동아일보 |language=en}} In 2005 he moved back to South Korea to play for Samsung SDI in the Korea Rugby League.{{Cite web |last=Hinato |date=2022-01-04 |title=Lee Myung Geun nommé sélectionneur de la Corée du sud à XV |url=https://www.asierugby.com/post/lee-myung-geun-nomm%C3%A9-s%C3%A9lectionneur-de-la-cor%C3%A9e-du-sud-%C3%A0-xv |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Asierugby |language=fr}}
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.{{Cite web |title=李明根 Player Profiles |url=http://en.rugby-japan.jp/schedule/player/69425/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Japan Rugby Football Union |language=en}}
Coaching Career
After 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. He also coached the South Korea Sevens side.{{Cite web |last=Rugby |first=Asia |date=2023-04-21 |title=Korean Coach Excited by Challenger Series Rewards |url=https://www.asiarugby.com/2023/04/21/korean-coach-excited-by-challenger-series-rewards/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Asia Rugby |language=en-US}}
Honors
= As player =
== [[Hong Kong Cricket Club]] ==
- Hong Kong Rugby Club League
- Champions: (1) 2004–05
== [[World Fighting Bull]] ==
- Top West League
- Champions: (1) 2007–08
== [[Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay|Kubota Spears]] ==
- Top East League
- Champions: (1) 2012
- Runners-up: (1) 2011
== [[South Korea national rugby union team|South Korea]] ==
- ARFU Asian Rugby Championship
- Champions: (1) 2002
- Runners-up: (2) 2004, 2006
- Asian Games
- Champions: (1) 2002
== [[South Korea national rugby sevens team|South Korea Sevens]] ==
- Asian Games
- Champions: (1) 2002
- Runners-up: (1) 2006{{Cite web |title=Japan take Asian Games Sevens title |url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/67344.html |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=ESPN scrum}}
= As coach =
== [[South Korea national rugby union team|South Korea]] ==
- Asia Rugby Championship
- Runners-up: (2) 2022, 2023
References
{{reflist|50em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Myung Geun}}
Category:South Korean rugby union players
Category:Rugby union scrum-halves
Category:Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay players
Category:Asian Games medalists in rugby union
Category:Rugby union players at the 2002 Asian Games
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2006 Asian Games
Category:Asian Games gold medalists for South Korea
Category:Asian Games silver medalists for South Korea
Category:Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games
Category:Medalists at the 2006 Asian Games