SaberCats’ Dominic Akina: ‘I like to bring that power and speed’

By Aaron Wilson

Dominic Akina checks a lot of boxes as an all-around athlete with a rare combination of power, speed and a versatile sports background.

Akina has the size and speed of an NFL safety at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds. He has run the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds with an eye-catching 41-inch vertical leap.

And the SaberCats center, a former Western Oregon rugby and football player who played previously for the Austin MLR squad, is utilizing those tools as a newcomer determined to make an impact.

Akina has a distinct style of play built around his skills having played the sport now for several years and continuing to develop as a rugby player.

“Individually, I like to bring that power and speed to the team,” Akina said. “I think that really helps. I finally got to start the game and having time inside and outside the backs really helped me develop my game as well.”

Noticed by Austin MLR at a Major League Rugby combine, Akina played rugby and football in college and high school. He was a three-time Rugby Club Most Valuable Player.

Akina grew up in Hawaii before moving to Oregon and playing football, including safety, corner and linebacker, and track in high school. He has also played for the Williamette Sharks Rugby Club, which is affiliated with the International Rugby Institute in South Africa.

During a preseason match against the New England Free Jacks’ Akina’s mobility and strength were on full display. He was extremely difficult to stop in the open field. Once he encountered interference, he busted through tackle attempts to score a try.

“I felt like it went good,” Akina said. “The boys are starting to click. A lot of us are new, so the preseason really develops us and molds us together. I think we did pretty good for the first time all playing together.”

The SaberCats earned a 34-21 victory. Their passing was sharp and, overall, it was a solid start.

“It was awesome,” Akina said. “A lot of the boys got the reps to develop the chemistry. We have a big team, so having that chemistry between all of us is important. If somebody goes down, someone else can come in and continue playing.

“We’re feeling really good. We’ve worked on culture. That’s a big thing in preseason. Guys are going to be around each other the whole time. We’re starting the grind of the season. We’re looking forward to it.”

Akina and the SaberCats have set their ambitions high after the team reached the playoffs a year ago.

“We hold ourselves to high expectations,” Akina said. “We want to be champions and we have to practice like champions and have a championship mindset. As we say, we want to win the day.”

*Photos by Nicolas Romero