Murdered teenager 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.

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