Profile - Jason Oakes

By RucknRoll
August 24 2006

Jason Oakes

 

 Position Lock
Date of Birth 29/09/77
Place of Birth Shotley Bridge
Height 2.01m (6ft 7in)
Falcons Debut  
Previous Teams Blaydon, Otley
Honours England Counties
 

A local lad, Jason was educated at Tanfield in County Durham and Haydon Bridge School in Northumberland. An all-round athlete, he was a top British junior javelin thrower and aged only 17 was ranked 8th in the UK seniors. Forced to give up due to constant arm injuries, he was working in factory in Hexham when a friend persuaded him to go and train at Blaydon RFC. Within a year, he was a first team player in National Three North and, within three years, he was in the England Counties XV and was part of the inaugural England Counties XV squad that toured Chile in June 2002. Later that year, coming out of a stint with the RAF, he wanted to play at the highest level he could, and ND1 side Otley won the race to sign him ahead of Wakefield.

In four seasons at Cross Green Jason notched up around 100 appearances. While at the Yorkshire side, Jason turned down the offer of a three-year professional contract with Neath-Swansea Ospreys. A gas engineer by trade, Jason has also been described as “a budding property magnate, who dabbles in all sorts of trades”. Otley coach Peter Clegg was disappointed to lose Jason when the Falcons came in for him, "He is fit and athletic and he has great hands," has said Clegg of a player he regarded as his unsung hero. "He wins his lineout ball, he has bags of enthusiasm and he is a fantastic influence around the place. He always has a smile on his face”.

    Fact: Jason’s nickname at Otley was ‘Bomber’.

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