Draft:Oliver Simpson
{{AFC submission|d|bio|u=188.39.66.253|ns=118|decliner=Heavy Grasshopper|declinets=20250626093450|ts=20250625083851}}
{{AFC submission|d|npov|u=188.39.66.253|ns=118|decliner=Bunnypranav|declinets=20250624130923|reason2=athlete|small=yes|ts=20250624125055}}
{{AFC submission|d|bio|u=188.39.66.253|ns=118|decliner=Rambley|declinets=20250624112200|small=yes|ts=20250624112010}}
{{AFC submission|d|bio|u=188.39.66.253|ns=118|decliner=Rambley|declinets=20250624103936|small=yes|ts=20250624103403}}
{{AFC comment|1=The source added since the previous review does not provide significant coverage of this individual. Other sources also do not fulfil the notability criteria. Some, such as the Louis Rees-Zammit source, do not mention Simpson at all.
Please read WP:N and consider if sources added about this individual can fulfil the criteria, before resubmitting. Heavy Grasshopper (talk) 09:34, 26 June 2025 (UTC)}}
{{AFC comment|1=In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. 188.39.66.253 (talk) 10:31, 24 June 2025 (UTC)}}
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{{Short description|Semi-Pro Rugby Player, Pro Window Cleaner}}
{{Draft topics|biography|sports}}
{{AfC topic|blp}}
{{AFC comment|1=In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. 188.39.66.253 (talk) 10:31, 24 June 2025 (UTC)|2=’m a fan of Brighton RFC and have followed Oliver Simpson’s progress this season. I thought his journey, especially as captain at Portsmouth, college and semi-pro experience, and county-level selection meet the notability threshold for rugby players. I have no personal or financial connection to him, and I’ve tried to write the article with a neutral tone and references.}}
Oliver "Ollie" Simpson (born c. 2001) is an English semi-pro rugby union player who plays as a forward for Brighton Rugby Club. He began his career at Portsmouth RFC and has also represented at county level. Known for his leadership and physicality, Simpson has captained club sides and overcome serious injury setbacks to remain a consistent performer at the semi-professional level.
Early Career
Simpson started playing rugby with Portsmouth RFC at a young age, beginning in the club’s tag rugby section and progressing through every age group. As a youth, he played up an age group regularly, including appearances with the Colts side while still under-16. He eventually broke into the Portsmouth first XV and was named captain.{{Cite web |title=Portsmouth – Portsmouth Rugby Football Club |url=https://www.portsmouthrugbyclub.co.uk/teams/portsmouth-1/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |language=en-GB}} at the age of 23.
During his development, Simpson was selected for the London Irish Development ‘Bronze’ Camp, part of the club's extended player pathway. Though he did not progress into the senior academy setup, the experience provided valuable exposure to a professional training environment.
Simpson attended Hartpury College, a school well-known for its rugby programme{{Cite web |title=Men's Rugby Academy {{!}} Hartpury College |url=https://www.hartpury.ac.uk/college/playing-sport/academies/mens-rugby-academy/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=www.hartpury.ac.uk |language=en}}. While there, he trained alongside a number of high-performance athletes, including Welsh International and NFL Superstar Louis Rees-Zammit{{Cite web |title=Louis Rees-Zammit |url=https://www.therugbyjournal.com/rugby-blog/louis-rees-zammit |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Rugby Journal |language=en-GB}}. Simpson has spoken a lot on how hard working Rees-Zammit’s was during their time together. The two even followed each other on Instagram at one point, until Rees-Zammit unfollowed him.
While at Hartpury, Simpson was selected to tour South Africa{{Cite web |title=Hartpury ready to take on the world in South Africa |url=https://thelocalanswer.co.uk/news/sport/rugby/hartpury-ready-to-take-on-the-world-in-south-africa.aspx?area=forest-of-dean |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=thelocalanswer.co.uk}} with a representative college squad.{{Cite web |last=College |first=Hartpury |date=29 March 2019 |title=Teamsheet of Hartpury Sqaud Selected |url=https://x.com/HartpuryRugby/status/1111292993527525377 |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=x.com}} He later described the trip as an “incredible experience” that further fuelled his ambitions in rugby. Although surrounded by elite-level talent at Hartpury, Simpson never quite broke into the top-tier performance squads, often finding himself just outside the selection bubble. While others around him pushed on to academy or pro setups, Simpson continued to work hard and enjoy the game, embracing the experience for what it was rather than where it could take him.
Senior Rugby
As Portsmouth RFC’s senior men’s captain{{Cite web |title=Player Stats {{!}} Rugby Football Union |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/player-stats?playerId=786959#table-season-2023-2024 |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=www.englandrugby.com |language=en}}, Simpson led the team to a usual but solid mid-table finish in league competition. His performances during the campaign attracted attention from scouts{{Cite web |date=2022-11-28 |title=Portsmouth vs Alton, Counties Hampshire 1, Sat 26th Nov 2023 – Portsmouth Rugby Football Club |url=https://www.portsmouthrugbyclub.co.uk/match-report/portsmouth-vs-alton-counties-hampshire-1-sat-25th-nov-2023/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=39569474-Pictured is: Portsmouth Player Ollie Simpson Picture: Keith Woodland 170921-110 |url=https://nationalworld.newsprints.co.uk/39569474-pictured-is-portsmouth-player-ollie-simpson-picture-keith-woodland-170921-110/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=National World {{!}} Newsprints |language=en}}, leading to a move into semi-professional rugby with Brighton RFC.
His debut season for Brighton RFC, where he turned semi-professional was a mix of personal triumph and collective misfortune. Despite being voted Players’ Player of the Year in his debut season, Brighton were relegated{{Cite web |date=2025-04-07 |title=Horsham RFC battle bravely in defeat and are relegated |url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/other-sport/horsham-rfc-battle-bravely-in-defeat-and-are-relegated-5070940 |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=SussexWorld |language=en}} to Regional 2, highlighting another strong individual campaign, amid collective misfortune.
In 2025, Simpson was called up to play for Hampshire{{Cite web |title=Match centre {{!}} Rugby Football Union |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/match-centre-community?matchId=1189861#lineup |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=www.englandrugby.com |language=en}} (his first county-level appearance). Both games ended in losses{{Cite web |title=Player Stats {{!}} Rugby Football Union |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/player-stats?playerId=786959#table-season-2024-2025 |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=www.englandrugby.com |language=en}}, continuing his light-hearted reputation for being “committed, impactful, and consistently on the wrong side of the scoreboard.” He attracted interest from Havant RFC, but chose to remain with Brighton.
Injuries and Recovery
Simpson has endured significant setbacks during his career, including a full ACL rupture and knee reconstruction after being stepped during a game of touch rugby in the COVID lockdown period. The injury saw him sidelined for 18 months, during which he reached a peak weight of 136kg{{Cite web |date=2024-02-26 |title=Gosport & Fareham vs Portsmouth, Saturday 24th February 2024 – Portsmouth Rugby Football Club |url=https://www.portsmouthrugbyclub.co.uk/match-report/gosport-fareham-vs-portsmouth-saturday-24th-february-2024/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |language=en-GB}}
Through a dedicated training and diet regime, Simpson made a notable transformation, returning to competitive play at 102kg. In 2025, he suffered a torn bicep while representing Hampshire, ruling him out of the pre-season.
Personal Life
Outside of rugby, Simpson is a professional window cleaner{{Cite web |title=Purgo Cleaning Services |url=https://www.purgocleaningservices.co.uk/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Purgo |language=en}}, often referring to himself as "the best window cleaner on the south coast."
A self-proclaimed dating enthusiast, Simpson jokingly calls himself "Mr Worldwide" after travelling to the Isle of Wight for a string of dates.
Simpson has cited Matt McLean as a player he looks up to, admiring his achievements{{Cite web |title=All time leading top scorers National Two South |url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Statbunker}} at the national league level and aspiring to follow a similar path through the rugby pyramid.
References
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