{{short description|Wales international rugby union footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Rhys Oakley | image = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|9|16|df=y}} | birth_place = {{nowrap|Plymouth, England}} | height = {{convert|193|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|106|kg|stlb lbs|abbr=on}} | school = Marlwood School | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Thornbury RFC | ru_currentposition = | ru_currentteam = | position = Number eight | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | years1 = 2002–2003 | years2 = 2003–2006 | years3 = 2006–2011 | years4 = 2011–2012 | years5 = 2012–2013 | years6 = 2013–2015 | years7 = 2017–2019 | clubs1 = Bristol Bears | clubs2 = Newport Gwent Dragons | clubs3 = Yorkshire Carnegie | clubs4 = CS Bourgoin | clubs5 = Northampton Saints | clubs6 = Plymouth Albion | clubs7 = Hartpury College R.F.C. | apps1 = 5 | apps2 = 33 | apps3 = 136 | apps4 = 37 | apps5 = 22 | apps6 = 82 | apps7 = 38 | points1 = 5 | points2 = 55 | points3 = 30 | points4 = 0 | points5 = 0 | points6 = 15 | points7 = 0 | repyears1 = 2003 | repteam1 = Wales | repcaps1 = 2 | reppoints1 = 0 | repsevensyears1 = 2006 | repsevensteam1 = Wales | repsevenscomp1 = 1 }}
'''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.
== Club career == Oakley first played for Thornbury RFC, and attended Marlwood School where he played for the school's team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club History |url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/thornburyrfc/a/club-history-27354.html |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=www.pitchero.com}}</ref> Oakley played for North Bristol RFC and Clifton RFC, before joining the Bristol U21 side, and ultimately gaining a first team contract.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Simon |date=2021-06-01 |title=Fighting to survive, the Wales rugby international who overcame hell |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/fighting-survive-wales-rugby-international-20714362 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref name=":0" /> Following Bristol's relegation from the top-flight in 2003, he joined Newport Gwent Dragons and made 50 appearances for Newport.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-08-31 |title=Season preview: Gwent Dragons |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3174985.stm |access-date=2023-05-07}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=WalesOnline |date=2006-06-29 |title=Two more join the Dragons exodus |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/two-more-join-dragons-exodus-2336283 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-05-31 |title=Tykes in double swoop |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15385016/tykes-double-swoop |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 June 2011 |title=Bourgoin snap up Oakley |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12548/6992572/bourgoin-snap-up-oakley |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref> Oakley spent one season with the side, before returning to the Premiership with Northampton Saints.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-28 |title=Saints add back-rower Oakley to squad |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15324450/saints-add-back-rower-rhys-oakley-squad |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Oakley played for the Saints for one season, and joined RFU Championship team Plymouth Albion R.F.C. as a player-coach in 2013.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=23 May 2013 |title=Oakley named Albion forwards coach |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/22637285 |access-date=2023-05-07}}</ref> In 2015, Oakley suffered a leg fracture while playing for Plymouth, ending his season and coinciding with the club's relegation from the Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-20 |title=Plymouth Albion's Rhys Oakley requires surgery after suffering spiral fracture |url=https://plymouthsportsgazette.com/2015/04/20/plymouth-albions-rhys-oakley-requires-surgery-after-suffering-spiral-fracture/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=plymouthsportsgazette.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=18 April 2015 |title=Plymouth Albion suffer relegation |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/32366951 |access-date=2023-05-07}}</ref>
Oakley departed Plymouth Albion in 2015, and joined Hartpury University R.F.C., again as a dual player-coach.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2021-03-02 |title=Rhys Oakley named as Defence Coach |url=https://hartpuryrfc.co.uk/rfc-news/rhys-oakley-named-as-defence-coach/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Hartpury RFC |language=en-GB}}</ref> While with Hartpury, Oakley was appointed as team captain, and helped the club gain promotion from National League One to the Championship.<ref name=":2" /> In 2018, Oakley was diagnosed with cancer, putting his playing career on hold.<ref name=":0" /> He successfully recovered, but retired from playing, remaining active as a coach.<ref name=":0" />
== International career == Oakley attained two Welsh caps in August 2003, making his debut for {{nrut|Wales}} against {{nrut|Ireland}} in the World Cup warm-up games in the back row alongside former Tyke Richard Parks.<ref name=":0" />
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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 March 2006 |title=Sevens keeps Oakley going |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/4624496.sevens-keeps-oakley-going/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=South Wales Argus |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-04-26 |title=Wales Sevens clinch Commonwealth Plate |url=https://community.wru.wales/2006/04/26/wales-sevens-clinch-commonwealth-plate/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Welsh Rugby Union {{!}} Club & Community |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Coaching career == Oakley's first coaching role came as a player-coach with Plymouth Albion, working as their forwards coach.<ref name=":1" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lane |first=Ellis |date=2017-10-15 |title=Rhys Oakley reveals why Lydney job was 'increasingly difficult' |url=http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/rhys-oakley-reveals-left-lydney-628189 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=GloucestershireLive |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Oakley rejoined Lydney in 2022, once again serving as head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crossman |first=Scott |date=2022-06-23 |title=Head coach Rhys Oakley 2022{{!}}23 |url=https://www.lydneyrfc.com/head-coach-rhys-oakley-202223/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Lydney RFC |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == Oakley's parents were born in Wales, and moved to Plymouth for work, where he was born.<ref name=":0" /> Oakley moved to Bristol at age four, and attended Marlwood School. In 2018, while playing for Hartpury, Oakley was diagnosed with cancer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iles |first=Robert |date=2018-08-28 |title=Hartpury players get new look in support of captain Rhys Oakley |url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/former-gloucester-rugby-star-gets-1944069 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=GloucestershireLive |language=en}}</ref> After undergoing chemotherapy and surgery, Oakley successfully recovered in 2019.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080430055523/http://www.leedscarnegie.co.uk/index_teamprofile_rhys_oakley.htm Leeds profile] *[https://dragonsrfc.wales/teams/player/dragons/103782/rhys-oakley.html Newport Gwent Dragons profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oakley, Rhys}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Bristol Bears players Category:British expatriates in France Category:Commonwealth Games rugby sevens players for Wales Category:CS Bourgoin-Jallieu players Category:Dragons RFC players Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen Category:Welsh expatriate rugby union players in France Category:Leeds Tykes players Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Category:Rugby union players from Plymouth, Devon Category:Wales international rugby union players Category:Welsh rugby union players Category:Rugby union number eights