OAKS Alumni Spotlight: Dan Slawson Makes Fylde RFC 1st XV Debut

We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of OAKS alumnus Dan Slawson, who recently made his debut for Fylde RFC 1st XV in their National Two North away fixture against Billingham Rugby Club on the 7th February 2026.

Dan, who attended AKS Lytham from 2016 to 2023, joined the Fylde 1st XV squad for a highly competitive match. Fylde went into half time with a narrow 12-14 lead, but despite a strong second-half performance, were narrowly beaten by Billingham in a closely fought 27-24 result.

Dan’s debut at this level marks another important milestone in his rugby journey. He has been part of Fylde rugby for several years and was recognised for his commitment and impact during the 2024/25 season, winning Coaches’ Player of the Season for Fylde Hawks.

His First XV appearance comes less than a year after another standout achievement, when Dan was selected as part of the Lancashire Rugby squad for the Jason Leonard Under 20s County Championship Final. As one of a 25-strong squad, Dan helped Lancashire secure victory against Devon at Twickenham, earning the title of National Champions.

We were also pleased to welcome Dan and several of his former classmates back to the AKS campus last year for our inaugural OAKS v AKS Football fixture. It was a pleasure to see him back in familiar surroundings, where his leadership and organisational skills were very much on show as he managed the squad from the sidelines. You can watch the video from the day, along with Dan's post match interview here.

During his time at AKS Lytham, Dan was a prominent figure within the sports department and was awarded Senior Rugby Player of the Season for the 2022–23 season at the annual sports awards presentation.

We would like to congratulate Dan on his Fylde 1st XV debut and commend the entire Fylde squad for their efforts in a hard-fought fixture. We look forward to following Dan’s continued progress and celebrating his future successes as part of our OAKS alumni community.