Reading teenager Olly Stephens remembered in annual rugby match
A teenager will be remembered later by the rugby teams he played for. Olly Stephens was 13 when he was fatally stabbed in January 2021 by two schoolboys after a dispute on social media.Every year, Reading Rugby Football Club hosts a match in his memory. Olly played for both Reading and Reading Abbey under-14s.Reading Abbey's club chair, Sam Wallis-Robinson, said the event gave people the "opportunity to reflect".
She said: "It is an amazing event, it not only gives us the opportunity to remember Olly but also for the kids to take stock of knife crime and the impact it really does have on society."She explained that Olly was a "big fan" of rugby."I was a London Irish season ticket holder and we used to see him and his dad at London Irish all the time."The whole family, particularly Stuart and Olly, were big rugby fans," she added.Two boys were found guilty of Olly's murder following a trial in 2021. A girl admitted manslaughter.His killers had fallen out with Olly because they believed he "grassed" on them to the brother of a boy they had mocked in a social media group chat, the court case heard.None of those convicted can be identified for legal reasons.It is hoped the match will "keep Olly in everyone's thoughts", Ms Wallis-Robinson said."It is real, it does happen and it can happen to anybody. Events like this do give people the opportunity to reflect."The fourth Olly Stephens Memorial Cup contest will be held at 19:30 GMT at Reading Rugby Football Club.
You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Shocking moment man is chased across taxiway at Heathrow Airport near moving aircraft before being arrested
The jaw-dropping chase saw the man run just metres away from taxiing aircraft AIRPORT HORROR Shocking moment man is chased across taxiway at Heathrow Airport near moving aircraft before being arrested Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN was spotted running across the tarmac at Heathrow Airport today near moving aircraft before being arrested. The individual, who was wearing something wide around his waist, was seen running away from at least four other men as he raced across the airport grounds near Terminal 2. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The man was filmed running across the tarmac near moving aircraft earlier this evening Credit: BigJetTV Video footage shared on social media sees the chase go on for around a minute before the man is eventually caught. The individual appears to stop running as a van, carrying two people in fluorescent tops, arrives. He can then be seen being escorted away, with a later cut in the clip showing him pinned to the ground. A few moments after this, a police van can be seen racing across the airport from its eastern end, eventually arriving at the scene. The man was then put in the back of the vehicle. A Heathrow spokesperson said: "Working with partners, we have quickly resolved an incident at the airport involving an individual who accessed the airfield taxiway. "The individual has been removed from the airport. "The airport continues to operate as normal and passengers are travelling as planned." More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Uriah Rennie dead: Premier League's first black referee passes away aged 65 after rare condition left him paralysed
Rennie was once described as the 'fittest' referee in England's top division REF TRAGEDY Uriah Rennie dead: Premier League's first black referee passes away aged 65 after rare condition left him paralysed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PREMIER League referee Uriah Rennie has tragically passed away aged 65. Legend Rennie had recently opened up about a rare condition that left him paralysed from the waist down. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Rennie had been diagnosed with a rare neurological condition 2 Rennie has died aged 65 Credit: Getty Once described as the "fittest" referee in England's top division, Rennie refereed over 300 top flight matches between 1997 and 2008. But after experiencing intense back pain while on holiday in Turkey last year, Rennie was admitted to Northern General Hospital in October. He told the BBC: "I thought I had just slept funny on a sun lounger, I was hoping to go paragliding but because of my backache I couldn't go. "By the end of the holiday I couldn't sleep a wink from the pain, and by the time I got home I could barely walk. read more sport POINT OF REF David Coote's new life as Evri delivery driver is admirable act of humility "I spent a month laid on my back and another four months sitting in bed. "They kept me in hospital until February, they found a nodule pushing on my spine and it was a rare neurological condition so it's not something they can operate on. "I have had to learn to move all over again, I'm retraining my legs." He continued: "It was strange - I went from running around the city to in essence being in traction for such a long time. "I didn't have any previous back problems but quite suddenly I wasn't able to move and was in a spinal unit." Rennie made history in 1997 when he became the Premier League's first black referee, officiating a match between Derby County and Wimbledon. An FA statement read: "The FA Refereeing Department is saddened to hear of the passing of former FIFA and Premier League referee, Uriah Rennie. "Uriah will forever be remembered as a true trailblazer of the game. Our thoughts are with Uriah's family and friends at this time." More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Robert Lewandowski QUITS Poland national team and refuses to play again until manager is sacked
'LOSS OF TRUST' Robert Lewandowski QUITS Poland national team and refuses to play again until manager is sacked Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEGEND Robert Lewandowski has sensationally quit playing for Poland - "until" the manager is sacked. The Barcelona striker issued a statement saying he has "loss trust" in Michał Probierz. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Lewandowski, 36, has hit 85 goals in 158 internationals. 1 Robert Lewandowski went on social media for his announcement Credit: Getty He posted on social media: "Considering the circumstances and the loss of trust in the coach of the Polish National Team, I decided to resign from playing in the Polish National Team until he is the coach. "I hope that I will be able to play for the best fans in the world." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS GAME OVER Iconic Italian club where Pep played goes bankrupt and faces boot from league The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
