April 2 - 1953 'K' Force in Japan

New Zealand K Force teams, selected from New Zealanders serving in the Korean war, toured Japan in 1952 and 1953. The 1953 team, in their second match, defeated the All Kansai XV at the Mizuho Field, Nagoya 17 – 11 on April 2^nd.

The 1953 tour was for five matches, against All Kyushu, All Kansai, All Kanto Students and two against All Japan.

The K Force team was managed by Capt D B Doake who had represented Canterbury as fullback in 1948 and captained by centre Colin Wilson (South Canterbury 1951-52).

Several others in the team had played or were to play first class rugby in New Zealand, including H H Clarke (Counties 1963), I C A Flavell (King Country and Taranaki 1951-65), K J Galbraith (Horowhenua 1955), O W Gleeson (Manawatu 1954-57), T T Harrison (Thames Valley 1955) P T Joyce (Taranaki 1950-61), S Reedy (East Coast 1954), and A Tureia (Poverty Bay 1950-54). Enough firepower for the level of opposition they were likely to meet.