Sam won his first cap for Scotland as a second-half substitute for Mike Blair against South Africa in Durban in June 2006 and followed up with a second replacement appearance in the second Test in Port Elizabeth a week later.

Sam is a scrum-half from Auckland, New Zealand where he represented Waipu and Northland.

He had been in Northland’s NPC squad since 1998, the year in which he played for New Zealand under-19 along with a couple of All Blacks, Aaron Mauger and Jerry Collins.

That same year he was in the New Zealand Youth team who toured Wales and Canada, and he has also been on the replacements’ bench for Auckland Blues in two Super 12 matches. In Northland club rugby he captained Otamatea (1999 and 2000) and Waipu (2001).

He joined Glasgow Rugby in summer 2003 and scored a try on his Celtic League debut in the September victory against Cardiff at Hughenden.

Sam has a degree in physical education from Auckland College of Education as well as having New Zealand RFU level 1 and 2 coaching certificates. Sam qualifies for Scotland as his paternal grandmother was born in Cockenzie, East Lothian.

Sam also played for a spell with GHA.