Young rugby player from the Boland club, Leighton Davies, has signed his first professional contract with the Stormers team. This was announced by his agent Shafik Muton of F7 Sports Management on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old winger, who hails from Bonnievale, attracted the attention of the Stormers during the season in the Robertson Town club rugby in Boland. He scored 31 touchdowns in 19 matches.
Davies, who previously won the South African triple jump championship three times and runs 100 meters in approximately 10.30 seconds, generated excitement on social media thanks to videos of his incredible speed and stunning acceleration, which allowed him to leave defenders behind.
As a result, Davies received an invitation to train with the Stormers in Cape Town, which culminated in his inclusion in a pre-season friendly match against the Bulls in Paarl. In this game, Davies scored an impressive touchdown, overtaking Bulls player Taakir Abrahamas to run along the try line and score the ball.
Participation in the United Rugby Championship
Although Davies was not included in the initial Stormers squad for the United Rugby Championship, coach John Dobson stated that the player's speed is viewed as a long-term project. He requires time to adapt to the tactical demands of elite rugby and the URC.
During the announcement of the Stormers squad before the new season, John Dobson noted: "The Robertson Express... this guy is a character in every way." He added: "We are going to invest in him. We have seen enough. We made a bet based on some grainy footage and the trip to Robertson, and we think there is something special about him."
Dobson emphasized that it will take at least a year before Davies starts playing in the URC. "He will not play in URC rugby this season, but we will continue to develop him and keep him with us. There are some areas in competitive play that we need to fix before he starts playing in the URC."