No player featured in more games during Northampton Saints’ Premiership title-winning season in 2023/24 than back row forward Sam Graham, who amassed 20 starts and made eight substitute appearances across three competitions.
Midway through that campaign, the flanker/No.8 signed an extended contract and soon afterwards scored a crucial try in the Champions Cup Pool stage victory away at Munster.
Entering his third season at Northampton in 2024/25, the 112kg forward achieved the 50-game milestone before unfortunately suffering a season-ending major knee injury in October 2024’s clash with Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Graham’s rugby career began at Chippenham RFC before moving into the Bath Academy. He also spent time in New Zealand with Auckland’s Massey Rugby Club – who list former Saints George and Ken Pisi amongst its alumni.
After briefly pivoting to pursue a career as a chef, Graham’s professional rugby journey restarted at Bristol Bears after signing a two-year academy contract that took in a loan spell at Hartpury.
In 2020, he moved to Doncaster Knights and received the Players’ and Coaches’ Player of the Year awards during his first year at Castle Park. Graham then captained them to second place in the Championship in year two – before joining Saints ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Graham’s debut in Black, Green and Gold came from the bench against Sale Sharks in September 2022, and a maiden Saints try came in his second outing in the Premiership Rugby Cup loss to London Irish later that month.
