From Manchester Thunder and Sale Sharks to Wigan Warriors via St Helens: Lucie Sams tells her unique sporting story

Lucie Sams has already enjoyed success at Wembley with both St Helens and Wigan Warriors - but her journey to rugby league’s biggest stage has been anything but conventional.

The 20-year-old prop helped Wigan retain the Women’s Challenge Cup earlier this month as Denis Betts’ side demolished rivals St Helens 54-6 under the famous arch. Yet before establishing herself as one of the Warriors’ rising stars, Sams was balancing rugby with a promising netball career and international rugby union ambitions.

Sams played netball for Manchester Thunder between the ages of 11 and 16, while also representing England at Under-18 and Under-20 level in rugby union during her time with Sale Sharks.

However, after sampling several sports, she has now committed herself fully to rugby league and is thriving back at the club where her rugby league journey first began.

“I did a bit of everything,” Sams explained.

“I played netball from the age of eight to 16. I played for Manchester Thunder from 11 to 16, and then in school, they had someone come in and do a session, and she was like, ‘You are good at rugby’.

“I was thinking, well, I like contact, so I went down and played a few games of rugby union when I was 15.”

After being spotted by Wigan, Sams joined the Warriors’ academy in 2022.

She spent a season developing within the club’s pathway before an opportunity arose elsewhere.

“I got picked up for the Wigan academy in 2022, did a year there, played second-row, and I played fullback beforehand - now I’m a prop,” she smiled.

“I played for Wigan’s academy and did the training, then Saints approached me. Also at that point, I got picked up for Sale Sharks, so I was doing Sale and Saints.”

Sams went on to enjoy a memorable spell with St Helens, making her senior debut during the 2023 Challenge Cup semi-final before featuring in the final at Wembley not long after turning 17.

“I’m not going to lie, I was so scared,” she recalled of playing in the final at Wembley. “I think it was only my third game of women’s rugby league. We were in the warm-up and I kept dropping the ball because you are looking around and the stadium is so big!

“Even walking out of the tunnel, it’s quite scary. We won it, though, it was definitely an experience.”

Despite her progress in rugby union, including representing England age-group sides, Sams eventually decided her future lay in rugby league.

“Last season I was kind of keeping my options open,” she said.

“I was enjoying my union and I was doing really well in union, but Wigan were doing well and I’ve always had a soft spot for Wigan, given it was my first opportunity in rugby league.

“I think my heart just wasn’t quite in it anymore with union. I felt like I had almost proved my point. It was like, ‘now it’s time to go and prove it in league’.”

Sams returned to Wigan towards the end of last season, helping the Warriors secure the League Leaders’ Shield during their trophy-laden campaign.

Although many assumed the move was influenced by Wigan’s success, Sams insists it was the environment that drew her back.

“I only came back at the very end of last year, so this is technically my first full season,” she said.

“I knew a lot of the players already and I knew I got on with them.

“A lot of people were like, ‘you’ve done it because they were winning everything’, but it was more the fact that I felt comfortable, I got on with the people and enjoyed the environment (with the Wigan girls).”

Having now lifted Challenge Cups with both of the women’s game’s elite clubs, Sams’ decision is already paying dividends - and she hopes there is plenty more success to come in cherry and white as Betts’ side aim to retain their Women’s Super League title at the backend of the year.