Ollie Sleightholme

Ollie Sleightholme
Birth nameOliver Harry Sleightholme
Date of birth (2000-04-13) 13 April 2000 (age 24)
Place of birthNorthampton, England
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight89 kg (196 lb; 14 st 0 lb)
SchoolNorthampton School for Boys
Notable relative(s)Jon Sleightholme (father)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Current team Northampton Saints
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Northampton Saints 86 (240)
Correct as of 15 January 2025
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 England U18 4 (15)
2019–2020 England U20 10 (25)
2024– England 5 (20)
Correct as of 24 November 2024

Oliver Harry Sleightholme (born 13 April 2000) is an English professional rugby union footballer who plays as a wing for Northampton Saints.[1] His father, Jon Sleightholme, was an England international.[2]

Youth career

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Sleightholme spent all his youth career at Northampton Old Scouts, where he played alongside future Saints teammate Connor Tupai.[1][3] He was a pupil at Northampton School for Boys,[4] and played in the school's team that made it to the semi-final of the 2018 NatWest Schools Cup, in which he scored a try in a 19–12 defeat by Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield.[5] Sleightholme played for the England rugby sevens team at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas, and he scored a try in his team's loss to Samoa in the final.[2][6] He scored a try on his debut for England under-18s in a 42–14 win against Wales under-18s on 25 March 2018.[7]

Northampton Saints

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Sleightholme signed a senior academy contract with Northampton Saints before the 2018–19 season.[8] He made his debut for Northampton in a Premiership Rugby Cup match against Bristol Bears on 27 October 2018.[9] And he made his Premiership debut three weeks later, scoring his first Northampton try 14 seconds after coming on as a second-half replacement against Wasps.[10][11] In only his second EPCR Challenge Cup game, he scored four tries against Timișoara Saracens on 18 January 2019.[12]

Sleightholme scored a try in the 2023–24 Premiership Rugby final as Northampton defeated Bath to become League champions.[13] At the end of that season in May 2024, having finished as top tryscorer in the Premiership, he was named in the Premiership Rugby Team of the Season for the 2023–24 campaign.[14]

International career

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Sleightholme was named in the England squad for the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,[15] and he made his debut at that level in the opening game against Ireland.[10] He scored tries against both France and Italy to help England finish third in the competition.[1]

Sleightholme also played at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship and scored two tries as England lost to Ireland in their opening game.[16] He subsequently scored a try in England's final pool game against Australia,[17] with England eventually finishing the tournament in fifth place.[18] Coach Alan Dickens named Sleightholme in his England squad for the 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and he made one appearance during the tournament against Scotland.[19]

In September 2021 Sleightholme was called up to the senior England side for a training camp.[20] He was included in the squad for their 2024 tour of New Zealand and on 6 July 2024 made his debut as a substitute in the opening Test defeat to the All Blacks at Forsyth Barr Stadium.[21][22]

In November 2024 Sleightholme scored his first tries at senior international level with a double in a loss against Australia during the 2024 Autumn Nations Series.[23] He also scored in their next game during a defeat against South Africa.[24] Sleightholme went on to score his fourth try in five games in their last Autumn international fixture of 2024, a 59–14 win against Japan.[25] This equalled the amount his father, Jon, had scored for England.[26]

List of international tries

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as of 24 November 2024.

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 9 November 2024 Twickenham Stadium, London, England  Australia 23–28 37–42 2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals
2 28–28
3 16 November 2024 Twickenham Stadium, London, England  South Africa 5–0 20–29 2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals
4 24 November 2024 Twickenham Stadium, London, England  Japan 33–7 59–14 2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ollie Sleightholme player profile". Northampton Saints. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b Neale, Harvey (30 November 2018). "At home with the Sleightholmes – Ollie shows Dad he's up to speed at Northampton Saints". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Joy for Scouts youngsters as they claim East Midlands Cup". Northampton Chronicle & Echo. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  4. ^ "NSB Young Saints Join Senior Academy For 2018/19 Season". Northampton School for Boys. 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  5. ^ "U18 Schools Cup: QEGS set up 2nd U18 final in 3 years". XV Rugby. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Sleightholme scores as England claim silver at Commonwealth Youth Games". Northampton Saints. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Sleightholme scores on England U18 debut". Northampton Saints. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Tupai and Sleightholme stay on as Saints hand senior contracts to five young stars". Northampton Chronicle & Echo. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Saints make 14 changes to matchday squad for Bristol cup clash". Northampton Chronicle & Echo. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Ollie Sleightholme player profile". England Rugby. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Match Report: Northampton Saints 36–17 Wasps". Premiership Rugby. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Northampton and Harlequins into last eight". Sky Sports. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  13. ^ Hurcom, Sophie (8 June 2024). "Northampton hold off 14-man Bath in Premiership final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Premiership Rugby Team of the Season 2023/24". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  15. ^ "England U20: Six Nations squad features plenty of senior experience". Fifteen Rugby. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  16. ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship: Ireland 42-26 England". BBC Sport. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  17. ^ "England U20 56-33 Australia U20". World Rugby. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  18. ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship: England U20 45-26 Wales U20". BBC Sport. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  19. ^ "Scotland U20 v England U20". Six Nations Rugby. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  20. ^ Jones, Chris (21 September 2021). "Louis Lynagh called up by England - Billy & Mako Vunipola plus George Ford left out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  21. ^ Vickers, Tom (2 July 2024). "Sleightholme set for England debut as six Saints stars are selected against New Zealand". Northampton Chronicle & Echo. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  22. ^ Mann, Mantej (6 July 2024). "New Zealand beat England in thrilling first Test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  23. ^ "Recap: England stunned as Australia snatch dramatic victory". BBC Sport. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  24. ^ Henson, Mike (16 November 2024). "South Africa grind out victory over England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  25. ^ Mann, Mantej (24 November 2024). "Nine-try England thrash Japan 59-14 to end losing run - reaction". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  26. ^ Hewett, Chris (17 February 1997). "Rugby Union: The time is right for Guscott". The Independent. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
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