Rhianne Oakley is the striker of an “unbeaten in nine” West Brom side pushing for promotion into the WSL 2, however she admitted; “growing up all I knew was rugby.”
She “started playing around three” and that’s all she knew until she was 12 years old and “after playing with the boys I had to move to an all girls team in South Gloucestershire.”
Unfortunately for Oakley she was becoming too skilled for her own good as “it got to the point that I was 13 playing for the under 18s.”
“All my friends played football growing up but all I knew was Rugby.”
Then everything seemed to fall into place for Oakley as around that time she admitted that she “lost the love” for Rugby and decided to “go to a school football tournament.”
“I was in goal until the last game, I went up top for the final match, I scored six.”
So after that, she naturally trialed for her college team and in her first year; “I got asked to join Bristol City academy.”
“In the squad at the time was Lauren Hemp and Mary Earps, so I went from playing Rugby to playing with these types of players, so yeah it was a shock.”
Then, later in her first year, she then got a call up for the Wales under 19s squad.
Admittedly, “the call up was really exciting, but a shock,” but mainly due to her affiliation with England, having lived in the South West region all her life.
“I always grew up following English Rugby, as my Dad is English, but my coach at Bristol City asked me if my name was Welsh, then not three days later I got a call up for the Welsh team, and I called my Mum and Dad straight away.”
“I mean they were over the moon for me,” Oakley described her parents reaction to something that was so sudden for her and her family.
The Baggies striker told of the “experience you get from playing for your country, just the quality of staff and playing with the best players in Wales.”
Ever since Oakley moved from Cardiff to West Brom she has been a smash hit with the fans, bringing Champions League experience to the Alexander Stadium.
She won supporters player of the season for her debut season in 2024/25, bagging eight goals.
West Brom fans will be hoping Oakley can bring that “experience” to the League this season as the West Midlands outfit look to gain promotion to the WSL 2.
“To go nine unbeaten is massive, its a great time to be apart of the club and its our time to show the league what we are all about.”
So far her performances this season have put the Baggies in good stead, bagging five goal involvements in 12 so far this season, leaving her side within touching distance of Rugby Borough atop the league table, and for Oakley, second isn’t enough.
“We are aiming for the league, we are aiming for trophies”
