Pro D2: Best director, entrepreneur, international… the multiple hats of Sam Davies, the Grenoble opener

Administrative problems, withdrawal of points, ninth place in the championship... After being very close to reaching the Top 14 last season, FCG, a rugby club from Grenoble, is going through a tumultuous start to the season. Nothing insurmountable of course, since they are only three points from the qualifying places for the final stages before traveling to Rouen, this Friday evening, as part of the 13th day of the second division championship. Which they owe in part to their new opener, Sam Davies. The Welsh international (30 years old, 10 caps) crossed the Channel during the off-season to reach the capital of the Alps and make a bet which is, for the moment, proving to be a winning one.

“Sorry, can we do it in English?” Despite the French lessons that he has been following diligently since his arrival in France, Sam Davies has not yet perfectly mastered the language of Molière. And this is the only point on which he still has to adapt. Present at the club for four months now, he dominates the ranking of the best directors with a whopping 136 points scored.

The Welshman does not seem to be homesick according to his own words, and given his performances on the pitch: “What Grenoble offers is a new culture, a completely new challenge in a new league and that is what I was looking for. […] Plus it’s in a beautiful town in France with the ski slopes right next door!”

However, even if he doesn't give the impression, this is his first experience outside the Welsh championship. A championship which has real disparities with the Pro D2: “the two main differences are that it is more physical and that we have more freedom in the game. Every week, I play against Fijians, Tongans and super tough Samoans!”

He has played 234 matches in the Union Rugby Championship (formerly the Celtic League) for the Ospreys, with whom he was voted best junior player in the world in 2013, then the Dragons. A long experience on the pitch which notably gave him the opportunity to rub shoulders daily with the emblematic ex-Welsh captain, now retired from the selection, Dan Biggar: “We often played together, him in 10 and me in 15. It was obviously a great player, the ultimate competitor! […] We were at school together, and even though he was four years older, he always took the time and we talked a lot. It’s always nice to get in touch again,” he assures Le Figaro.

The FCG was looking for a new scorer this summer, and he seems to have made a good choice. Since his arrival, and after twelve Pro D2 matches, the Welsh striker has given full satisfaction in the exercise. With 136 points scored, he is currently the top scorer in the championship. Certainly a talent, but first and foremost a lot of work which started very early.

“When I was young it was a big part of my training, I trained every day.” Which allowed him to obtain the best success percentage over a season in Wales, and to be winner of the “Golden boot” in 2017. His objective is to always be above 80% success rate. “And now how many are you?” “85%,” he replies with a smile. For comparison, Joe Simmonds, top scorer in the Top 14 this season, has an 88.9% success rate (106 points scored). Precision against the poles is valuable for the FCG this season, which has often relied on its boot to take points.

If his arrival in Pro D2 seems like a fairy tale for the moment, the reasons for his departure are less happy. Last spring, Welsh rugby was going through a major crisis including significant salary cuts and instability for players. A situation which pushed Davies into exile, and which put his international career on hold. In question, the rule of 25 selections: to be able to wear the Welsh jersey while playing in another national championship, a player must have at least 25 selections with the Leek XV. However, Davies only has ten, which he accumulated between 2016 and 2017. A situation of which the Grenoble opener is aware: “I have two years of contract in Grenoble, and I cannot play for the country of Wales during this time. So I’m only focused on the club now: trying to bring Grenoble back to the Top 14.”

Despite everything, and like all rugby fans, he followed the World Cup in France, the final result of which surprised him: I thought France was going to win! Especially after the victory against New Zealand in the opening match. It made me a little sad, as I experienced the competition in France. But I imagine that, in four years, they will be ready to win it..."

More recently, one of his teammates in the selection retired. Alun Wyn Jones, the most capped player in national history (170), has ended his adventures on the rugby field. A Welsh legend, and “a phenomenal guy”. “In addition to being an exceptional player, he is also a great human being. I don't think anyone will be able to beat his cap record."

In addition to his activity as a professional rugby player, Sam Davies recently embarked on a new challenge: entrepreneurship. With the help of his wife, Elianna Davies, he set up a spirits company, TocaVida, winner of the Welsh SME Trophy 2023. Their specialty? Gin of course! A product he is “proud of where it is today”.

But combining the life of a high-level athlete and that of an entrepreneur is not easy, and he readily admits to relying on his partner: “she is very strong in this area, she puts in a lot of time and effort. 'effort in'. With what objective now? Exporting it to Isère, where the couple lives: “we managed to get a distributor in Grenoble. It was important for us because the city is a part of my life now”.

If Sam Davies continues to be as skillful in front of the poles, the Grenoble supporters could well thank him, and treat themselves by trying his gin before going to the stadium...