By Aaron Wilson
For Tautalatasi Tasi, professional sports is a family affair.
The SaberCats’ veteran hails from a family of professional athletes.
His younger brother, Laki Tasi, is a 6-foot-6, 348-pound lineman for the Las Vegas Raiders. The massive 21-year-old joined the Raiders under the NFL International Pathway program after playing rugby in Australia in the Queensland Premier Rugby Union.
Their older brother, Lama Tasi, played professional rugby for the Sydney Roosters and the Brisbane Broncos. Their cousin, Raymond Faitala-Mariner played pro rugby for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Tautalatasi Tasi and his family are of Samoan descent.
It’s an athletic family.
“It’s awesome,” Tautalatasi Tasi said. “Our older brother started it off. He played professionally, and we tried to follow in his footsteps. I came along, and now it’s Laki’s turn. He’s got a lot of learning to do. We don’t know football much in Australia. For him to dive into the deep end, I think he’s going to go a long way. And I think they’re patient enough to take their time with his development.”
Tautalatasi Tasi, 30, joined the SaberCats last season. He previously played for the Toronto Arrows, the Melbourne Rebels and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
He played junior rugby for the Goodna Eagles before being signed by the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup.
Smaller in stature at 5-foot-10 and much lighter in weight, Tautalatasi Tasi has manufactured a strong season for the SaberCats.
He scored a try in a Western Conference playoff final victory over the Utah Warriors to help the SaberCats advance to the Major League Rugby championship this week against the defending champion New England Free Jacks.
“I’m very happy here,” Tautalatasi Tasi said. “I think last year I was probably a bit quiet, but this year I’ve tried to express myself more. I lost a few kilos in the offseason, so it’s helped me this season to move better.”
Tasi was off to the races on his try against Utah.
His not-so little brother is on his own path as he learns on the job in Las Vegas.
“I was just a big kid, out of breath after 10 minutes on the field,” Tasi told Las Vegas reporters. “I was just trying to find my footing, whether I was going to take this serious or not. I started to realize last year, but I’m still young and any time is the perfect time.“I told myself I have to look up what the NFL is all about. I was just more into work, rugby and training. Once I looked it up, I was like, ‘Damn, this is really big.'”
Laki Tasi was signed by the Raiders after training at the IMG Academy in Florida.
Now, he’s in the NFL.
“It’s pretty much just staying forward on the ground,” Tasi said. “You have to stay low, low movements. That’s what we get in rugby. You have to hit low, tackle low, run lower and it’s just the same if you’re a defensive or offensive player. I’m glad there’s some similarities.”
When Tautalatasi Tasi got the call from former director Heyneke Meyer recruiting him to join the SaberCats, the Australia native didn’t hesitate to join the Major League Rugby squad.
It’s been an extremely strong fit so far.
“Phenomenal guy, unbelievable,” SaberCats coach Pote Human said “You can see why everyone thinks so highly of him.”
He has added a speedy dimension to the SaberCats’ roster.
“I bring experience and aggression,” Tasi said. “That hard-charging style to the club.”
