By Zim Sport Live Writer
Zimbabwe senior rugby stars Brandon Mudzekenyedzi and Dylan Utete have signed deals with Korea Super Rugby League outfit OKMan Rugby Club.
The duo’s groundbreaking moves to South Korea follows Zimbabwe’s historic tour in November last year.
The reigning African champions beat South Korea 27-22 in the first ever meeting between the two nations in Seoul beat the United Arab Emirates and South Korea to close 2024 with a 100 percent win record.
Mudzekenyedzi, who has previously featured for clubs in New Zealand and Romania is not new to Asian rugby after spending three years at Ryutsu Keizai University in Japan, on a scholarship.
The New Zealand-bred star initially completed his move to South Korea last month and has been training with his new teammates ahead of the season opener on Tuesday.
Mudzekenyedzi set to make his bow for OKMan Rugby Club as a winger while Utete, who completed his move last week will provide crucial support from the back row as a replacement.
The Zimbabwean pair’s arrival at the South Korean club is a huge boost for the team, which is aiming for its first-ever South Korean rugby championship title this year.
Okman Rugby Club, established in 2023, is the newest team in South Korea’s top flight rugby union competition which was recently featured on Netflix’s new Korean reality show Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die.
The show aims to bring South Korean rugby to a global audience.
Over the 14-episode season, seven teams—Yonsei University, Korea University, Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps, OK Man Rugby Club, POSCO E&C, Hyundai Glovis, and KEPCO—compete for the title of the strongest rugby team in Korea, as well as a prize of 300 million won (about US $200,000).
In addition to showcasing rugby, the series also highlights the sportsmanship and determination of its athletes, who include college students, semi-professional players, national team members, and Olympians.