On Sunday 19 February, Oundle School pupil, Sam Olver (17) made his full England U18 rugby debut against France at Fylde.
Sam started playing rugby at the age of four for Stamford Rugby Club and then from the age of nine he moved to Stamford Junior School where we had an unbeaten season. He was selected for Northampton EPDG (Elite Player Development Group) when he was 12 and is now in the Northampton Saints Academy. Sam also plays fly half for Oundle School’s 1st team.
Sam was initially selected from the Northampton academy in to a 45 man England squad to go on a camp to Harrow and the squad has gradually been cut down after each camp to about 25 players.
Sam commented, “The match itself was a fantastic experience and amazing to be a part of the build up to it all and eventually play in the game, which England won 18-16. I came on for the last 20 mins and it was an unbelievable experience to represent my country. In 3 weeks time we play Scotland, and if I am selected I can’t wait to be a part of another England match. I really hope to be selected to go to Madrid with England u18's to play in the FIRA tournament which is for 10 days in the Easter holidays. In the long term I would like to get a contract from Northampton and a dream come true would be to represent England first team at Twickenham.”
Sam's father, John is an English former rugby union hooker who played for England, Northampton Saints and Harlequins. John won his first international cap against Argentina in 1990 and went on to gain 4 full caps for England. John is now Head of Rugby at Oundle School where he was recently joined by another member of the 1991 World Cup squad, Simon Hodgkinson.