By Coventry Rugby 
Coventry Rugby is proud to announce the signing of Murray Davidson, a 21-year-old hooker and the first player to join the club through the newly launched Pro Rugby Combine.
Davidson’s journey is a testament to hard work, perseverance, and belief in oneself. Murray, who wasn’t part of an academy pathway growing up, played his rugby with Bishop Stortford from the age of five and rose through the ranks to make his first-team debut last year against Plymouth, to studying Biochemistry at Nottingham Trent University and finishing his studies while playing at Hinckley, Murray’s path has been anything but conventional.
Now, he steps into the professional arena.
“It was a pinch-me moment,” Murray said. “As a kid, I always wanted to be a professional rugby player. To get the call, it didn’t feel real. A lot of my hard work has paid off now.”
Davidson earned his contract through the Coventry Pro Rugby Combine – a performance and skills-based testing event designed to identify untapped rugby talent from across the world. The opportunity, he says, was both demanding and thrilling.
“You come to the combine and you’ve got to do the hard bits. It was a chance to prove myself against what I said I could do. The experience was really enjoyable and professional – and that’s exactly what I want to be a part of.”
Reflecting on the moment, Davidson still finds it surreal.
“Honestly, it hasn’t sunk in yet. I say to my mum and dad that I’ve signed a professional contract, but it still feels like the six-year-old me is running around. It’s surreal. You dare to dream – and I’m actually going to be part of it, which is like… wow.”
Head Coach Alex Rae was full of praise for the young hooker, emphasizing both his athletic output and his character.
“It’s great to welcome Murray to the club. It’s a fantastic story and shows that there’s no set route to professional rugby.
Murray stood out from his testing and also on the rugby day – especially his throwing and skill set, which was really exciting. Then, speaking to Murray, it was clear he has a real appetite to test himself.
We’re very confident that in our environment, he will really grow his game. He’s a flag bearer for the Coventry Combine – but hopefully, the first of many!”
Matt Jones, Academy Manager at Coventry Rugby, also reflected on the wider success of the Combine initiative:
“The Pro Rugby Combine was a huge success, and the insight it’s given us as a club into a new group of players is exactly the outcome we hoped for.
Even more encouraging is catching up with players at the end of the process and learning how many have received interest from other clubs following the match. This is precisely what we set out to achieve with the Combine – creating exposure and genuine opportunities for the outliers. We’re proud to have delivered on the club’s ambition to support these players and open doors that may not have existed otherwise.
Beyond opportunities with other clubs – and notably, Murray Davidson securing a full-time contract with us – over 20 players from the Combine have been invited into our U23 programme ahead of next season. That group will feature in fixtures against Cambridge U23 and RAF U23 (both in September), and Hinckley U23 over the Christmas period.
We’re really excited about U23 rugby this season. The programme will feature a strong group of players who have graduated from our U18 pathway, alongside standout performers identified through the Pro Rugby Combine and this year’s U23 Pilot.
We look forward to sharing more details soon about Pro Rugby Combine 2026 – with some exciting developments already in motion.”
Nick Johnston, CEO, added:
“We launched the Coventry Rugby Pro Combine to open the door for talented athletes who might have been overlooked by the traditional system. Rugby needs fresh thinking and inclusive opportunities like this – it’s exactly what the sport needs to grow and evolve. We’re proud to be leading that change”
Davidson’s signing not only marks a personal milestone but also signals the success and potential of the Coventry Pro Rugby Combine as a new route to professional rugby. His story stands as an inspiration for aspiring players everywhere – and he is just the beginning.
Coventry Rugby will be continuing the Combine into 2026, starting on April 20th. More information on how to sign up will be shared soon.
