Oakham’s sporting success on a national stage continues with a huge number of teams in a variety of sports reaching their national finals or playing at the top of their league!
Netball has had an astonishing season with U14 and U19 netballers both qualifying for National Finals. This is for an impressive fifth time running for the U19 squad, and for the third year in a row for the U14 team. Ahead of the Nationals, Oakham’s netballers benefited from some coaching by England and Loughborough Lightning players Jess Shaw and Vicki Oyesolo. The teams’ continued successes are combined with individual pupil achievements – there are currently nine pupils playing netball at National League level (six at Loughborough Lightning and three at Wasps Netball).
Team rugby has encountered challenges this year, with the disappointment of Oakham’s Sevens Rugby tournament being cancelled. The U15 Boys have, however, made Oakham proud by winning their place in the NatWest Semi-Final and becoming our first U15 team to reach this stage in the competition.
With an impressive seven pupils currently 1st XV Tigers Academy players and Oakham’s 1st XV captain being named in the England U18 training squad, rugby at Oakham continues its national reputation.
Footballers are currently top of their league – with Oakham’s U18A and U18B Boys’ football teams currently residing at the top of their Independent Schools Football Association leagues.
Hockey has enjoyed great success this term – with the U13 Boys team reaching the National Finals, the U18 Boys reaching the Quarter-Final of Tier 1 National Competition and the U16 Boys Hockey making it through to the last 16 of National Competition. Pupils thrive at a national level – with two girls being selected for England Hockey – and club level too, helping their teams to secure places in the National Finals.
The success doesn’t stop when pupils leave Oakham – the number of alumni gaining national reputations in sport gathers apace, particularly in rugby, with three OOs playing in the Six Nations: Jack Van Poortvliet (18), Sam Costelow (18) and Hamish Watson (10).
