‘He can be a bit of a penalty machine in the Colts, so I keep having to remind him: “NO PENALTIES!”, Loz Valente.

Seventeen-year-old, Sam Valente (son of ‘Loz’, who played for Pontefract in the late 1980’s alongside the likes of Club stalwarts Steve Hough, Phil Atkinson, Mark Tankard and the Yorkshire Dale Hughes) had an impressive debut in the back row in Pontefract’s first league encounter of the season on 3rd October against a strong Malton XV.

‘The transition from colts to senior rugby in the forward pack is a big step-up for a young player’ remarks Director of Rugby, James Grant, ‘but Sam came through with flying colours. He reads the game well for a young man, knows when to contest at the breakdown and makes his tackles count in defence. He is a wonderful prospect’

Living in Wakefield, Sam began his playing career with Sandal RUFC at the age of six, being coached by Loz until the Under 15s when he, unfortunately, tore his labrum and had an enforced year away from rugby in rehab following shoulder surgery. When he returned to the game, with his father’s blessing, Sam transferred his allegiance to Pontefract alongside Josh Sundin and had an impressive first season with the Colts.

What makes Sam such a great prospect is that he’s an all-round athlete, never misses training twice a week and is a keen martial artist. If his improvement can continue with a similar trajectory and he remains free from injury, Sam could quite easily become one of Pontefract’s great back-row forwards, remembered alongside the likes of Charlie Stone, Dave Matthews, Rich Scott and Nick Vaughan.

Not one dimensional, Sam is as balanced as a quadratic equation, impressing both on and off the field of play - he’s studying Law and Politics at Sixth Form College and hopes to go to university. He’s not massively into music, but is an avid Leeds United fan – favourite player? Ethan Ampadu, of course, disciplined, dedicated, committed.