Young player fundraising to represent Scotland at Under 19s European Championships

A Wakefield academy player is looking to raise funds to enable him to represent Scotland at the Under 19s European Championships in Serbia later this year.

Iain Oakley, 16, has been chosen to play in the tournament to be held in Belgrade between August 1 and 12, but with no funding available, all players are being asked to make a significant contribution to the £1,040 costs.

From Sheriff Hutton near York, Oakley signed a contract to join the Wakefield Under 19s academy in August last year and is up at 5am every morning for academy training, before attending college in Wakefield and then attending further field training sessions are college.

He has played both codes of rugby since the age of six and has played rugby league for community clubs New Earswick, Heworth and East Leeds.

Oakley, who is one of the youngest members of the Scottish squad, qualifies via his Aberdeen-born grandmother.

Nine nations will take part in the Under 19s European Championships – England, France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Ukraine and Wales.

You can donate to Iain’s fundraising campaign via his JustGiving page – click here