Dom Besag on Sharks Trial, Ma’a Nonu Inspiration, and World Cup Aspirations

The narrative of how Dom Besag became involved in his sport is likely to be well-received by rugby enthusiasts.

At the age of six, Besag was engaged in playing football—known as soccer in the United States—for his local California club. His playing style, as defined by Besag, was “pretty aggressive.” This caught the attention of a spectator who also coached at the nearby Danville Oaks Rugby Club, who approached Besag’s father with a recommendation. “Maybe your son should consider playing rugby instead of soccer,” Besag recounts. “So, I decided to give rugby a shot and… I loved it.”

To clarify, “pretty aggressive” does not imply reckless tackles or elbowing during play. It pertains more to his stance and demeanor on the field.

“I think it has to do with my running style. I have always run with a certain intensity. My feet hit the ground quite hard, and my arms have a lot of movement. It’s not very… graceful.” When he arrived for his first training session, Besag immediately felt at ease.

The center is emerging as one of the United States’ bright talents, securing a starting position after making his debut at 19 years old against Georgia. He is the kind of player that the Eagles can build their future squad around, not only looking towards next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia but also for the following tournament on U.S. soil in 2031.

Before diving into the USA’s strategy for the upcoming Nations Cup in November, Besag wants to clarify an important point.

In July, it was announced that Besag would be joining the Sharks in South Africa ahead of the 2026/27 season.

In reality, Besag was only with the Sharks for a couple of weeks, adapting to the setting during a trial he describes as an “unbelievable” experience, but it was not a permanent transfer.

“Honestly, I have no clue what transpired. I believe there was some miscommunication on their part. I have not signed any contracts yet. I’m still in search of a team.”

Interestingly, the announcement post regarding Besag’s transition has been removed from social media, but a player profile remains active on the Sharks’ website. He is still interested in the possibility of joining the Sharks in the future, complimenting the players and coaches for their warm welcome, with plans to rekindle discussions after November. Yet, as it stands, no contract is in place, leaving Besag as a free agent.

Besag spent his childhood dabbling in baseball and American football—initially as a running back and linebacker—but his true passion became rugby, leading him to the San Diego Legion academy.

This means the USA’s forthcoming trio of matches in November—against Hong Kong in France, Romania in Bucharest, and concluding with Georgia in Tbilisi—will put Besag in the spotlight.

Simplistic as it may sound, Besag appears to be a player eager to advance his career. One of his two tries last November against Georgia showcased exceptional footwork, featuring a powerful sidestep to evade the last defender.

These skills were initially developed at the Danville Oaks, located about thirty minutes east of San Francisco. Besag recalls the overwhelming sense of belonging and camaraderie he experienced from the coaches upon his arrival.

He experimented with baseball and American football—first as a running back and linebacker—but ultimately found his calling in rugby, joining the San Diego Legion academy.

Disruptions to high school rugby due to the Covid pandemic meant that academies became Besag’s primary training ground, where he participated in round-robin tournaments against other academies, fostering friendships and eventually playing age-grade rugby for the USA. Besag also had the honor of captaining the Under-20 team.

During this vital development phase, his inspirations included Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams – both excellent choices – as well as Danny Barrett’s powerful style in the USA sevens. However, what captivated Besag was the lively College rugby scene in the U.S., where he observed players from nearby Saint Mary’s College of California progressing to become Eagles. The first game he watched was a USA match against Canada in Sacramento, and he later made the trip to Washington D.C. to see the USA compete against New Zealand in 2021.

By the time the 2019 Rugby World Cup rolled around, Besag was fully immersed. He recalls staying awake until “four, five in the morning each night” to catch the tournament, often waking up with headaches.

When Besag faced Japan in Sacramento last September, it took place in the same stadium where he had watched the USA play years earlier.

“I had the chance to walk out onto the field with several youngsters from Danville Oaks, and that was an incredible full-circle moment for me. Just being one of those kids watching the match and then being on the field with those same kids was truly special.”

By the time the 2019 Rugby World Cup was underway, Besag was completely captivated. He remembers burning the midnight oil until “four, five in the morning” watching the matches, emerging with headaches. It was all entirely worthwhile, as that marked a turning point where he began closely analyzing the sport and couldn’t get enough, “like drinking from a fire hose.”

If things go as planned, in a year’s time, it will be Besag’s opportunity to feature at the Rugby World Cup, representing the USA in their opening match against strong contenders France.

There is significant preparation to be done in the lead-up. A strong summer, highlighted by victories over Portugal, Zimbabwe, and Spain with “the vibes being great,” preceded a fourth-place finish in the Pacific Nations Cup, where they lost the third-place playoff to their ardent rivals Canada. It’s an experience that Besag acknowledges is never enjoyable. “Emerging from that kind of scenario is tough. It’s a fierce rivalry, and both teams intensely want to win. The memory of that game lingers for quite some time.”

Whether they win or lose, Coach Scott Lawrence’s philosophy remains consistent, urging his players to “leave it all on the field.” The upcoming Nations Cup in November presents a chance to build positive momentum, similar to what the USA achieved over the summer. To “continue uncovering our identity,” as Besag expresses, “being brave internally and discovering what makes us ‘us.’”

Following that, the 22-year-old Besag will be on the lookout for a new club. “I’m ready for the unknown,” he says with a grin. It surely won’t be long before a team takes notice and recruits him.