Sam Graham (rugby union)
Date of birth | [1] | 6 July 1997||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 112 kg (247 lb; 17 st 9 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sam Graham (born 6 July 1997) is an English rugby union player who plays as a back row forward for Northampton Saints.
Career
[edit]Graham started his rugby career playing for Chippenham RFC and played as a youngster in the Bath Rugby academy. He went on to play for Massey Rugby Club in Auckland, for whom he made ten appearances.[3] He signed a two year academy contract with Bristol Bears in 2018.[4] He played for Hartpury on loan in 2019.[5]
He signed for Doncaster Knights in the Rugby Championship in 2020, and won the players’ and coaches’ player of the year awards during his first year. The following year, he captained the side to a second-place finish in the Championship in 2021-22, and was named in the Championship's team of the year as they won 17 out of 20 matches.[6]
He signed for Northampton Saints in the summer of 2022.[7] He scored four tries in twenty appearances in his first season with the club.[8] In December 2023, having made 31 appearances for the club and captaining the side on two occasions, he signed a new contract with Northampton.[9]
Personal life
[edit]Graham worked as a chef prior to becoming a professional rugby union player.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sam Graham". Its Rugby. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Sam Graham". All.Rugby. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ Vickers, Tom (10 February 2023). "Sam shows the way for Saints' young players". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "In-Depth: Hard work is recipe for success for former chef Sam Graham". BristolBears. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Sam Graham". Iltimate Rugby. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Vickers, Tom (10 July 2022). "Graham aims to be another Championship success story at Saints". Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "SAINTS SIGN GRAHAM AND SMITH". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Burridge, James (13 April 2024). "Sam Graham: Chef turned back rower 'living the dream' with Northampton Saints". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Vickers, Tom (19 December 2023). "'Important leader' Graham signs new deal at Saints". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Sam Graham: Former chef chasing double success with Northampton Saints". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 April 2024.