Leighton Davis, a sporting talent from the Boland club, has signed his first professional contract with the Stormers team. Rugby director John Dobson noted that Davis's performances in pre-season training convinced him of the player's serious potential to become a Stormers star.
On Thursday, the Stormers officially announced the signing of the 25-year-old winger from Bolan, who was born in Bonnievale. The coaching staff noticed him during the season when he played for Robertson Town, scoring 31 touchdowns in 19 matches.
Davis was previously three-time South African triple jump champion and can sprint 100 meters in approximately 10.30 seconds. His videos featuring electric speed, allowing him to leave defenders behind due to impressive acceleration, went viral on social media.
Davis received an invitation to train with the Stormers in Cape Town, which culminated in his participation in a friendly pre-season match against the Bulls in Paarl. In this game, Davis scored an impressive touchdown, overtaking Bulls player Taakir Abrahamas to run along the try line and score the ball.
Junior Rugby Championship
Dobson expressed satisfaction that the franchise managed to discover such talent by expanding its scouting reach beyond traditional player development paths in the region. He stated in his announcement: "Leighton obviously possesses incredible speed, running 100 meters in under 11 seconds barefoot, but what he showed us in pre-season is true rugby instinct."
He continued that this is a great example of the recruitment system working. While young talents are identified, and the Stormers Rugby Institute develops the best, there is still huge untapped potential in the region. "I saw his game for Robertson Town live, and it was clear he had something special. Now our job is to develop him as a player so he can make an impact at a higher level."
Dobson added that they aim to provide all local players, regardless of where they play, with an opportunity to join the team. He thanked everyone who contributed to the deal, especially agent Shafik Muton, who put in extra effort.
Davis shared that this opportunity excites him greatly. He hails from the small town of Bonnievale, located about 185 km from Cape Town, where he lives with his mother Brumilda, who represented Boland in volleyball and achieved regional awards in basketball and athletics.
Davis has now left his job at the local municipality, where he worked as an assistant civil specialist in the water utility, to pursue his dream of a professional rugby career with the Stormers. He noted: "Like any local guy, I grew up watching the DHL Stormers, and training with the team over the past few months has been a dream come true." He also added that he wants to prove that he can continue to improve and that he belongs to one of the strongest teams in world club rugby.