| Date of birth | 16 September 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Plymouth, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 106 kg (16 st 10 lb; 234 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Marlwood School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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]
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]
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]
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]