By Aaron Wilson
For Houston SaberCats prop Pono Davis, the question triggered a laugh.
If someone had told him he would ultimately reach the 50th Cap milestone in Major League Rugby back when he was a starting defensive tackle for the SMU football team, he wouldn’t have believed them.
“No, definitely not,” Davis said.
Now, Davis has hit that benchmark in his fourth season with the defending Western Conference division champions.
There was synergy in the moment.
He played his first career match against the San Diego Legion.
Last weekend in a decisive win over the Western Conference division rival, Davis played in his 50th career match.
“It’s crazy to think that happened,” Davis said. “I didn’t know if I could get an opportunity to play my first year. So many guys had been playing in MLR for years. To get my first cap and 50th cap against San Diego and win it, it means everything.“That’s why we play sports: to compete and play against the best. San Diego is definitely up there with the best teams in MLR. They’ve done a lot to build the rugby community in San Diego. We’re trying to do the same thing here. To beat them and continue to build this program and grow the sport in America, it means a lot.”
Davis (6-foot-2, 275 pounds) is a native of Hawaii who converted from football to rugby.
His first career start came during a bonus point win over the Seattle Seawolves.
A former starting defensive tackle who earned an invitation to the Hula Bowl all-star game and was a three-time American Athletic Conference all-academic selection before playing professional football in The Spring League, Davis has adapted to the sport of rugby.
A former 300-pounder, Davis has exercised and dieted down to increase his mobility.
“I like having a little more weight on me, but, in order to be able to run around this field, you have to be a little more agile and light on your feet,” Davis said. “You train all year to be on the starting roster.”
To play in Major League Rugby, the premier North American professional league, shows Davis’ potential.
“That was my first time ever playing rugby, so it’s going pretty quickly,” Davis said. “I learned and ended up getting this opportunity to play at a higher level. It’s been quite a journey.”
A former defensive tackle, a nose guard and three-technique who played 38 games for the SMU Mustangs after playing at Tyler Junior College and previously being named a Defensive Player of the Year and first-team offensive line and defensive line selection in high school, Davis was named to the Frisco Bowl all-time team.
As a senior at SMU, he recorded 30 tackles, four for losses and two sacks. He had 22 tackles, two for losses and one forced fumble as a junior.
The parallels between American football and rugby resonate with Davis whose understanding and knowledge of the game are growing quickly.
“Some of the similarities I’ve picked up on is the linemen are forwards, if you converted football players into rugby players, and the defensive linemen and offensive linemen are props, the front row and all the guys in the scrum competing for the ball,” Davis said. “You have guys on the outside that are like wide receivers in football. Then, you’ve got the nine, he’s like the quarterback. He’s the guy who sees the gap and pulls the ball. He’s like a quarterback who’s also the punter. He does everything.”
Growing up in Hawaii, Davis was a versatile athlete. That has helped him pick up rugby.
He played football, soccer, basketball, even ice hockey.
He played football, soccer, basketball, even ice hockey.
“I played everything,” Davis said. “Now, here comes rugby. Football players can do this. Look at Drake Davis. I was talking to him on the sidelines and I told him, ‘That’s how you show America how football players can play rugby. He had a great game. It’s definitely something we can look more into with more football guys involved in the sport.”Living and playing sports in Texas has been a comfortable feeling for Davis ever since his junior college days.
“I don’t what it was, but it’s like Texas has been calling to me,” Davis said. “I’ve been here ever since I left Hawaii, and it’s just been awesome.”
