United co-captain Kiani Akina
Utah Youth Rugby closed on week two of the girls’ high school fall 7s season, and the standings have tightened. Provo served perennial leader United its first loss of the series, and Wasatch is looking to close on a 12-10 Round 1 defeat to the state champions. Teams will be reseeded into this weekend’s tournament, and then Salt Lake City’s Regional Athletic Complex will host the championship on Oct. 24.
RELATED: Week 1 Highlights (YouTube)
“This year’s team is very different than last year’s team,” said Kiani Akina, one of four United captains. “A lot of last year’s team is now playing in college. They’ve been playing rugby for many years and are really confident and have that rugby IQ. There are a lot of new girls this year, which is a really cool experience to learn as a team, as a unit, and learn how to redefine what the United team is this year.”
United coach Colin Puriri described Akina as a playmaker and distributor, key roles for someone who only picked up the game last year. She has background in dance, soccer and gymnastics, but when the family moved to Utah approximately five years ago, she decided to focus on basketball. The intent was to play in high school and potentially college, but things changed following the summer of her sophomore year.
“I played varsity [basketball] for two years, but I felt like it wasn’t for me anymore and I lost interest,” Akina said. “When I stopped playing basketball, my parents encouraged me to play rugby.
“I was just trying it out at first,” she remembered first impressions. “I wasn’t involved in the rugby community or world, so I didn’t know of United’s standard. But I learned pretty quickly. I’m a highly competitive person in all aspects of my life, so United was the perfect fit.”
Akina knew Nafi Fitisemanu from church and school, and leaned on the USA U18 player when learning the game. Fitisemanu is now a freshman at Harvard University and playing for the 2019 NIRA national champion.
“I really looked to her because we played similar positions and she was really patient and welcoming and really cared that I understand the game,” Akina said.
As a first-season junior, Akina helped United to the 2019 UYR fall 7s title and was able to play one 15s game before Covid-19 canceled the spring 2020 season. Today, the senior is one of five captains alongside A’ne Bezzant, Catherine Moore, Lilly Thomas and Ane Vakapuna. She’s fast and evasive at 5’2”, 140 lbs., and describes this year’s team as speedy with some power.
“I wasn’t nervous at all to be captain, more excited,” Akina said. “One thing I like about myself, I feel like I’m a natural leader. So I was grateful to have the opportunity to go back and play and help lead our team this year.
“Plus, we all work really well together,” she said of the leadership group. “We all have really distinct personalities and bring different things to our team, but they’re all equally important. We all mesh well and are focused on putting things together and helping the younger girls.”
After a couple weeks of delays, the girls’ UYR season kicked off on Oct. 3 and United started with a close 12-10 win over Wasatch.
“It was as close as the score suggests,” Akina said. “We played a summer season – if you can call it that – but this was our first official game since March 8. That is a long time to go without playing a game. And it was surreal playing Wasatch. There were definitely some nerves, and it was a really good experience to play that high competition and push ourselves.”
Akina has been impressed with younger players like Ana Lomu and her cousin, Jordis. Ana started playing over the summer and Jordis began last year with Akina. Watching their progress and impact on the pitch energizes the squad.
United went 4-0 opening weekend, but Round 2 saw a bit of a shake-up. Provo took home first place after beating United 26-14 in the final, and now both teams are 7-1.
“They are a fierce team with not just strength but speed,” UYR Girls Commissioner Christine Yee praised the Steelers. “The young team has been playing together since middle school. It is anchored by senior captain Jenalei Fifita, who is smart, humble and a tough runner. Provo is coached by Tevita Langi, Inoke Fifita and Soakai Puli.”
Additionally, the Majestics joined the field and beat Wasatch 24-17 in the 3rd place match. Kahuku (Hawaii) transfer Tahliyah Toomalatai has joined the squad and ups the experience of the Jenny Sika- and Angela Tuiaki-coached team.
RELATED: UYR Week 2 Games (YouTube)
The competition is off this weekend for fall break and will resume with Round 3 on Oct. 24. There is another gap week for Halloween, and then the first two weekends in November will host the final rounds of the series.
“With Covid it’s weird,” Akina considered overall team goals. “If [Covid-19] cases get worse, then we might have to cancel one or more tournaments. We’re not sure if we’ll be able to play at nationals. There’s just a lot of uncertainty around it all.
“My biggest goal is to have a really great, successful senior year,” she added. “The seniors need to set a good base so the girls can take over the team next year and keep growing the program at a high standard. But if we do continue to play and Covid doesn’t shut us down, then obviously our goal is to win nationals.”
RELATED: UYR Results & Standings
However this 2020-21 season evolves, Akina’s personal rugby goals extend into college. After her first fall 7s season, she consulted her parents and then asked Puriri for his thoughts on her chances of playing at the next level.
“I said, ‘I know I just started and am really new and have a lot to learn, but do you think I could play in college,’” Akina recited her conversation with Puriri. “As soon as he said he had faith in me, I made my decision and vowed to work hard, get seen, and do what I have to do to make it happen.”
During Round 2 of the UYR 7s series, Akina was actually on the East Coast on unofficial visits to Brown University and Harvard University, where she reunited with Fitisemanu. NIRA shut down in its 2020 championship season and hopes to resume play in the spring, like many of the competitions across the country.
Stay tuned for more team profiles and coaches’ interviews.