Hertford rugby and the Oku Memorial Trophy

8 December 2012

Hertford students, captained by Richard Foord, combined with players from Vincent’s Club to form a XV and play in the Oku Memorial Trophy tournament. The tournament is held to honour Ambassador Katsuhiko Oku, a Hertford alumnus who was the first Japanese national to play for the Blues XV, and was assassinated in Iraq in November 2003 whilst on secondment from the Japanese Embassy in London.

Three teams competed in the tournament: London Japanese RFC, of which Ambassador Oku was a founder, the Kew Occasionals RFC and the combined XV from Vincent’s Club and Hertford. Vincent’s/Hertford defeated London Japanese 29-24, but were then defeated by Kew Occasionals 31-7 who went on to defeat London Japanese 35-12 and retain the trophy.