The Glendale Raptors signed Dakota O’Neil for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The 26-year-old (27 in Jan.) lock/back row is 6’4″ and 240 lbs.
In 2019 he played 360 minutes in 12 matches, had 52 carries for 327 meters and made 64 tackles. He also had 2 linebreaks, 3 tackle break, and 1 offload.
Kody was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up in Troutdale. He attended Reynolds High School and after graduation, went to Oregon State University. He attended OSU from 2011-2015 and played rugby. Kody earned two Bachelor Science Degrees from OSU, one in Exercise and Sports Science and the other in Chemistry.
He then continued his education at Edith Cowan University, near Perth, Australia, in an online degree program from 2016-2017. He earned a Master of Science Degree in Strength and Conditioning.
From February 2016 through January 2017 he played for Ponsonby Rugby Club in Auckland, New Zealand. He also played for Auckland Men’s 7s in 2016.
Kody then moved to Christchurch in February 2017 where I played for High School Old Boys RFC for that season. He began at Division 2 and worked my way to play for the Division 1 team, as well as a few starts in a few of those matches.
He moved back to the USA in July 2017 and was at home in Troutdale for a short time before moving to Seattle in September 2017 and joining the Seattle Saracens. He played for them until he received an offer from the Raptors and moved to Glendale in April 2018. The Raptors also hired Kody as the Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach. Following the conclusion of the MLR season, he continued to play during the Fall Exhibition season and welcomes the chance to help the team in 2019.
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