The 25-year-old winger, nicknamed the “Robertson Express”, attracted widespread attention during his outstanding campaign with Robertson Town in Boland club rugby, where he scored 31 tries in 19 matches.
Davids was invited to train with the Stormers during pre-season and was subsequently selected for their practice match against the Vodacom Bulls at Faure Street Stadium in Paarl.
He made an immediate impression, using his remarkable pace to beat Bulls winger Thaakir Abrahams on the outside before racing down the touchline to score.
His rugby breakthrough comes alongside an accomplished athletics background. Davids is a three-time South African senior triple jump champion and has demonstrated sprinting ability, including running a sub-11-second 100 metres barefoot.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said Davids had shown during pre-season that his speed was matched by a natural understanding of rugby.
“Lleyton obviously has searing out-and-out pace,” Dobson said, adding that the winger had demonstrated “a real instinct for rugby” during his time with the Stormers.
The Stormers believe Davids still has areas of his game to develop before he can compete regularly at United Rugby Championship level. Dobson had previously indicated that the club viewed him as a long-term project and planned to continue developing him.
For Davids, however, the opportunity represents the fulfilment of a childhood ambition.
“Like any local boy, I grew up watching the DHL Stormers, and training with the squad over the past months has been a dream come true,” he said.
Davids added that working alongside established players had given him the motivation to continue improving and prove that he belongs at the professional level.
The Stormers’ official announcement confirmed that Davids has now signed a contract with the club after his impressive pre-season showing.
Although he is not expected to feature in the Stormers’ URC campaign immediately, the agreement gives the former club-rugby standout an opportunity to develop within a professional environment and pursue his ambition of competing at the highest level.