Rhys Oakley

Rhys Oakley (born 16 September 1980 in Plymouth) is a former professional rugby union footballer who played as a number eight. Oakley began his professional career with Bristol Rugby, before moving to the Newport Gwent Dragons, Leeds Tykes, Northampton Saints, and CS Bourgoin-Jallieu. During the final years of his career, Oakley spent time as a player-coach for Plymouth Albion R.F.C. and Hartpury University R.F.C. Oakley is a Wales international and represented Wales Sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Rhys Oakley
Date of birth (1980-09-16) 16 September 1980
Place of birthPlymouth, England
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight106 kg (16 st 10 lb; 234 lb)
SchoolMarlwood School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number eight
Youth career
Thornbury RFC
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2002–2003
2003–2006
2006–2011
2011–2012
2012–2013
2013–2015
2017–2019		 Bristol Bears
Newport Gwent Dragons
Yorkshire Carnegie
CS Bourgoin
Northampton Saints
Plymouth Albion
Hartpury College R.F.C.
 5
33
136
37
22
82
38		 5
55
30
0
0
15
0
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003 Wales 2 (0)
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2006 Wales 1

Club career

Oakley first played for Thornbury RFC, and attended Marlwood School where he played for the school's team.[1] Oakley played for North Bristol RFC and Clifton RFC, before joining the Bristol U21 side, and ultimately gaining a first team contract.[2]

Oakley played in the Premiership for Bristol Shoguns, where he made 19 starts for the club. He was named as man of the match on his second appearance, a Heineken Cup match against Clermont.[2] Following Bristol's relegation from the top-flight in 2003, he joined Newport Gwent Dragons and made 50 appearances for Newport.[3]

At the end of the 2005–06 season, Oakley and teammate Leigh Hinton were released by Newport Gwent Dragons, and joined Leeds Tykes on a two-year deal, for the start of the National Division One 2006–07 season, making his debut against London Welsh at Headingley on 3 September 2006.[4][5]

Following Leeds' relegation at the end of the 2010–11 Premiership season, Oakley used a release clause to exit his contract with the club, and joined French club CS Bourgoin-Jallieu.[6] Oakley spent one season with the side, before returning to the Premiership with Northampton Saints.[7] Oakley played for the Saints for one season, and joined RFU Championship team Plymouth Albion R.F.C. as a player-coach in 2013.[8] In 2015, Oakley suffered a leg fracture while playing for Plymouth, ending his season and coinciding with the club's relegation from the Championship.[9][10]

Oakley departed Plymouth Albion in 2015, and joined Hartpury University R.F.C., again as a dual player-coach.[11] While with Hartpury, Oakley was appointed as team captain, and helped the club gain promotion from National League One to the Championship.[11] In 2018, Oakley was diagnosed with cancer, putting his playing career on hold.[12] He successfully recovered, but retired from playing, remaining active as a coach.[2]

International career

Oakley attained two Welsh caps in August 2003, making his debut for Wales against Ireland in the World Cup warm-up games in the back row alongside former Tyke Richard Parks.[2]

Oakley was selected for Wales Sevens for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, following an injury to Dragons teammate Jamie Ringer. Oakley scoring a try in the plate final, helping the team to a 28–24 victory.[13][14]

Coaching career

Oakley's first coaching role came as a player-coach with Plymouth Albion, working as their forwards coach.[8] After departing Plymouth, Oakley worked as head coach at Lydney RFC while playing for Hartpury, before leaving the role to focus fully on Hartpury, becoming their defence coach in 2017.[15][11] Oakley rejoined Lydney in 2022, once again serving as head coach.[16]

Personal life

Oakley's parents were born in Wales, and moved to Plymouth for work, where he was born.[2] Oakley moved to Bristol at age four, and attended Marlwood School. In 2018, while playing for Hartpury, Oakley was diagnosed with cancer.[17] After undergoing chemotherapy and surgery, Oakley successfully recovered in 2019.[2]

References
  1. "Club History". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. Thomas, Simon (1 June 2021). "Fighting to survive, the Wales rugby international who overcame hell". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  3. "Season preview: Gwent Dragons". BBC Sport. 31 August 2003. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  4. WalesOnline (29 June 2006). "Two more join the Dragons exodus". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. "Tykes in double swoop". ESPN.com. 31 May 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. "Bourgoin snap up Oakley". Sky Sports. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  7. "Saints add back-rower Oakley to squad". ESPN.com. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  8. "Oakley named Albion forwards coach". BBC Sport. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  9. "Plymouth Albion's Rhys Oakley requires surgery after suffering spiral fracture". plymouthsportsgazette.com. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  10. "Plymouth Albion suffer relegation". BBC Sport. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  11. "Rhys Oakley named as Defence Coach". Hartpury RFC. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  12. Thomas, Simon (1 June 2021). "Fighting to survive, the Wales rugby international who overcame hell". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  13. "Sevens keeps Oakley going". South Wales Argus. 3 March 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  14. "Wales Sevens clinch Commonwealth Plate". Welsh Rugby Union | Club & Community. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  15. Lane, Ellis (15 October 2017). "Rhys Oakley reveals why Lydney job was 'increasingly difficult'". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  16. Crossman, Scott (23 June 2022). "Head coach Rhys Oakley 2022|23". Lydney RFC. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  17. Iles, Robert (28 August 2018). "Hartpury players get new look in support of captain Rhys Oakley". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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