The Busan Bandits RFC hosted KERA 19 - 6 on Saturday, October 19th. It was the club's second home tournament for the 2019 KERA league season. The Bandits welcomed the Seoul Survivors, Stars & Stripes Korea Military Rugby and the Ulsan Goblins.

The tournament was played on a wet pitch but the results were a fair reflection of the KERA season with the Seoul Survivors once again claiming the Joe Day Cup after losing it for two years.

The KERA 19 - 6 tournament took place at the Samnak (삼락) Riverside Sports Park on a wet and soggy Soccer Pitch B (686, Samnak-dong, Sasang-gu, Busan-si) / 부산 사상생태공원 축구장B (부산광역시 사상구 삼락동 686).

On Foot

• Get off at Sasang Station (Metro line 2) and go out exit 3.
• Walk about 15 minutes toward the Nakdong River, or get off Gwaebeop Renecite Station on the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit line and cross the bridge leading to the park.

Vehicle

• When heading heading south on Nakdong Dae-ro, there is a turnoff to the left that leads to a small tunnel (4.2m clearance) under Gangbyeon Dae-ro.
• Take that turnoff and then turn left after exiting the tunnel.
• You will see the soccer pitch (B) on your right.

Click on the image for a live Google map

The KERA 19 - 6 match day schedule with results ...

After failing to field a team during the last tournament, the Bandits put in a decent effort in their second home tournament of the season. They came away with a win against Ulsan and shared the spoils with the Stars & Stripes team.  The match against the Survivors is one they would probably like to forget.

It was very much a bag of mixed fortunes kind of season for the Bandits. They were flying high for two consecutive years, with back-to-back KERA league championship wins and one Knock - Out Shield win.

As is the nature of expatriate rugby, some experienced personnel left Korean shores and the Bandits went into the 2019 season with a number of new and inexperienced players. A spate of injuries also didn't contribute much to their cause.

That said, the Bandits for Life spirit lives on and they will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in the near future.

The KERA 19 - 6 social event (prize-giving and speeches) was held at the Busan Bandits 'clubhouse', also known as The Wolfhound Irish Pub & Restaurant.

Presentations and speeches started at 6:30 pm and was followed by a Rugby World Cup 2019 quarter final as well as the usual social shenanigans.

The Wolfhound also screened all the quarter finals live throughout the weekend.

Thanks to the contribution of all involved, KERA 19 - 6 Busan was a great success. Next up is the KERA Knock-Out Shield 2019 tournament to be held in Daegu.