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Clifton
Rugby Football Club History |
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Rhys Oakley wins first of two caps for Wales. Born 16th September 1980. He started playing at Thornbury but went to Clifton and played through the junior teams up to the 1st
XV. Then he joined Bristol in 2002. In September 2003 he joined Newport Gwent
Dragons. He played for England u21's but was eligible to play for Wales through his grandparents.
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INTERNATIONAL
RECORD:
Wales Appearances 2003
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Career
Record: P2, W1, D0, L1, Tries 0, Cons 0, Pen 0, DropG 0
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16th August 2003 v Ireland (Dublin) L 12-35
30th August 2003 v Scotland (Cardiff) W 23-9
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Above Rhys Oakley winning the Man of the
Match award after beating Montferrand 24-19 on 19 October, 2002. Montferrand had 12 internationals in their side
and were pre-tournament favorites. Argentine Fly-Half Felipe Contepomi scored
19 of the Bristol points. The Bristol side that day was Drahm, Rees, Higgins, Gibson, Christophers,
Contepomi, Pichot, Sheridan, Johnstone, Crompton, Archer, A. Brown, Short, Lipman,
Oakley. Every single one of them joined other clubs at the end of that season
when Bristol were relegated in the last match of the season v
London Irish at Reading. Worse still they were relegated instead of Bath.
Above ticket from the rugby match that made
history. The biggest crowd at a league match 20,793 at Bristol v Bath at Ashton Gate on 4th May 2003. A match that featured ex Clifton RFC players Alex
Brown and Rhys Oakley in the Bristol side. Bristol won 30-20. How things turned
around so dramatically the following week. This record was broken on 19th March 2004
when 22,840 spectators watched London Irish v Bath at the St.Patrick’s Day match.
Above programme cover and team sheet for
the last match Rhys Oakley and Alex Brown played for Bristol v London Irish
on the 10th May 2003 when Bristol were relegated.
Above left: ticket from the Bristol v London
Irish on the 10th May 2003. Above right ex Clifton RFC player Alex Brown leaves
the pitch, left, after the London Irish match when Bristol were relegated. Centre
is head coach, and ex All Black selector, Peter Thorburn, Right Shane Drahm.
Rhys Oakley played in two World Cup warm
up matches. He came on as a replacement in the Scotland match on 30th August
2003.
Above programme cover and team heet for Rhys
Oakley’s debut for Wales v Ireland on 16th August 2003. Keith Wood retired from international rugby after
the 2003 World Cup.
Above programme cover and team sheet for
Rhys Oakley’s 2nd cap for Wales v Scotland on 30th August 2003.
