Experts from the sporting world inspired an audience of 100 talented young athletes at Oakham School’s Sporting Futures event, an evening filled with talks and networking opportunities.

Elite coaches, agents, and athletes representing a range of sports, including rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, and athletics, shared advice and gave insight into different sporting pathways and career opportunities in the world of performance sports.

Over 100 young athletes from schools across the region, who are currently involved in talent pathways and academies, attended with their parents to learn more about what they should expect from a talent development environment.

The headline speakers included English cricket coach and former professional cricketer Paul Nixon, who spoke about what it takes to make it in elite sport and what coaches look for; international rugby referee Christophe Ridley, who talked about how to cope with feedback, setbacks and high-pressure situations; and sport psychologist Dr Rosie Collins, who outlined the psychological journey that athletes are likely to undergo and how to use emotion to your advantage.

Current athletes also took to the stage to share insights into their experiences as young performance athletes. Leicester Tigers and England U18 and U20 rugby player Emeka Ilione reflected on his life, balancing his first years of professional sport whilst being a full time medical student, and former Oakham School pupil and Great Britain and NI Juniors athlete Izzy Skelton ('22) shared her experience of life as a student athlete and the setbacks she has experienced along the way.

Following the talks, those attending enjoyed a networking reception in Oakham School’s Sports Centre, where they had the chance to talk to the speakers and other special guests about their own sporting journey and explore networking opportunities. Here guests had the opportunity to talk to three OOs who are experts in their fields, Leicester Tigers and England rugby player Jack Van Poortvliet ('19), rugby coach and ex-Leicester Tigers player Matt Smith ('04) and Great Britain sprinter Fabian Powell ('24). 

Oakham School’s Head of Sports Partnerships, Dr Iain Simpson, said: “I’m very grateful to our speakers and special guests for joining us, and for helping to deliver a hugely successful event.

“This is the second Sporting Futures evening that we have held at Oakham School and, as evidenced by last year’s event, it is an excellent way to bring together talented athletes from far and wide to discuss matters important to them and their families. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to guide students on their sporting talent journey and help them realise their sporting potential.”