Korea University seeks to cancel rugby at Yonsei-Korea Games following student's death

This year's Yonsei-Korea Games may not feature a rugby match following the death of a Korea University player.

Korea University and Yonsei University students cheer for their university during last year's Korea-Yonsei Games. [NEWS1]

This year's Yonsei-Korea Games may not feature a rugby match following the death of a Korea University player.

Korea University sent a request to Yonsei University, asking that the universities not hold a rugby match for this year's Yonsei-Korea Games, also known as Yon-Ko Jeon, according to university officials on Thursday.

The universities will decide whether to cancel the match by early next week.

The decision follows the death of a 19-year-old Korea University student, a member of the rugby team, during preseason training in Japan. The student was taken to the hospital on Aug. 19 after showing symptoms of exhaustion and high fever during training but passed away the next day.

If Yonsei University accepts Korea University's request, the rugby match scheduled for Sept. 28 will not be held, and this year's games will proceed with only baseball, basketball, ice hockey and football.

In the past, the rugby match was canceled in 2019 due to a typhoon and in 1999 due to heavy rain.

The Yonsei-Korea Games, referred to as the Korea-Yonsei Games in odd-numbered years, dates back to the universities' first football match in 1927. Since then, the universities have been showcasing their rivalry every year through football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey and rugby matches.

Currently, Korea University is also investigating whether the rugby team's coaches acted appropriately when the 19-year-old student fell ill.

According to reports by JTBC, the student fainted during outdoor training, but the coaches allegedly did not offer assistance for approximately 30 minutes, claiming the student was exaggerating. An ambulance was called only after the 30-minute delay.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]