A Fresh Start for DI Elite MVP Haungatau

This year’s DI Elite National Championship was special because it happened. With all of the disruptions that Covid-19 has and continues to cause, four teams treated the country to quality 15s this spring. It was a condensed season, and Penn State was unable to participate, but it was a great competition that filled a big void. It ended with Lindenwood University at home, hoisting its third-straight trophy.

“It’s been a great effort by all the teams in DI Elite to have a sustainable season this year amidst COVID,” Lindenwood head coach Billy Nicholas reiterated. “We are really grateful to be able to participate in a culminating event like a national final. All the teams in DI Elite this year have been great competition and it’s been an exciting season.”

A truly fantastic freshman class debuted across the competition. Central Washington ran the most first-years, most notably in its pack, and players like Tessa Hann (an MA Sorenson Award nominee), No. 8 Zonaye Tupuola, Abby Nichols and Kayla Guyton all perpetuated the Wildcats’ physical reputation. Back-three Sammy Stern also injected show-stopping speed into the attack. Life put Pepe Toomalatai, Brooklyn Vaifanua and Alex Wantlin on the varsity squad, and their poise and maturity bodes well for the future of the Running Eagles.

Even Lindenwood, which showcased a lot of veteran talent, worked freshmen into the A-side rosters. Ahnea Aupiu locked down the weakside flanker position and worked nicely with Alia Ah Far and Kapoina Bailey in the back row. The reserves often included freshmen Puni Skipps, Manaia Moala, Salote Iongi and Jayla Hampton, and they contributed nicely.

But Lindenwood inside center Eti Haungatau is, inarguably, the most influential freshman of the 2020-21 season. The Sacramento native graduated high school in spring 2018 and deferred entry to Lindenwood University to participate in a full-time residency with the USA 7s program in Chula Vista, Calif. She was the only teenager in the group, and the only player to come right out of high school and immediately relocate to SoCal. A larger audience saw what Haungatau brings to the pitch when the USA Falcons won the 2019 LVI 7s final inside Sam Boyd Stadium, and then the international community began to understand a couple months later when she represented the 15s Falcons against the Barbarians FC.

During summer 2019, Haungatau earned her first USA 15s caps during the Women’s Super Series, and then in October, she helped the 7s Eagles win the Glendale, Colo., leg of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series. Haungatau wasn’t just capped. She was unintimidated, powerful, nimble – a vision of the future, with a good goose step to boot.

Haungatau continued to compete on the 2019-20 international 7s circuit, but there were other opportunities to be had, too. In fall 2020, she officially reported to Lindenwood to begin her collegiate career.

“Transitioning from USA 7s residency to collegiate rugby did take a bit of adjusting,” Haungatau noted. “For one, I wasn’t used to being around many people my age but, with time, I found my place in the squad and was able to create close relationships with my new family here at LU.”

Lindenwood attracts a lot of talent from every corner of the country, but everyone knows Haungatau. She was the youngest capped player for the USA 15s and lauded on the international 7s circuit. She’s a known entity.

“When I first joined the team, I wanted a fresh start,” Haungatau confessed. “I didn’t want any of my rugby background to affect the way my teammates looked at me or treated me. I definitely felt a bit of pressure coming into the team. I thought that if I performed badly, it would be magnified and if I performed well, it would’ve been expected. There was a lot of pressure to perform well, but I was lucky to join an amazing team that only worried about the team’s growth and development throughout the season.”

Fortunately, Haungatau doesn’t have to carry Lindenwood and she found her groove between senior flyhalf Richelle Stephens and senior outside center Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru. Both have served as speaking captain on game day, and in the national championship, Stephens and Morgan Freeman assumed those duties.

“Richelle and Morgan were great captains for the final,” Nicholas praised. “We rotate who plays the role of the big voice on game days to give multiple people the ability to lead and facilitate effective conversation in our huddles and pre- and post-match. They are two extremely cognitive players that are highly aware of the intricacies of the game.”

Obviously playing at the international and collegiate levels differ, and Haungatau applied herself well during the DI Elite season. She has the power to fend and run over the opposition, but is very good about drawing the defense and then deftly moving the ball to where space is opening up as a result. Haungatau scored in the final but she set up tries, too. USA Women’s National Team head coach Rob Cain watched the Saturday night’s match in person and chose Haungatau as MVP.

“I imagine it’s a very humbling experience for anyone to be named MVP of a championship,” Haungatau reflected. “I feel honored that I was able to perform for my team and that Rob Cain felt I performed well enough to be named MVP of the match.

“Rob has always been a favorite coach of mine,” she added. “He’s very cool, calm, and collected. He’s got that nice British accent and he’s never yelled at me. All jokes aside, it’s always nice catching up with him.”

Haungatau asserted that the award belonged to her teammates and coaches, “because without them, there is no me.” Nicholas, too, made sure that everyone was recognized in the 54-12 win and title-winning season.

“Unsung performances for us was everyone coming in to finish the match,” the coach closed. “We got in all 23 rostered on the day into every match we have had this season, and that just shows you the ability of those to come in and contribute and finish for us.”

The DI Elite season is over but it built so much excitement for the return of rugby. It wasn’t just the freshmen who introduced themselves but also the sophomores who got little field time before Covid-19 hit last year. There’s still rugby to come this season in terms of 7s and national team assemblies, so stay tuned and stay hungry.