Since Taylor Mokate graduated from LHHS in 2006, he’s traveled the globe playing rugby and learning the game. He played for the USA in the 2008 World Cup in Australia, and now he’s been invited to the Olympic training grounds in California at the end of September for a tryout with the USA Olympic and World Cup teams.
Taylor first took up rugby in the ninth grade, but – being from Texas – spent a lot of his time playing football. In fact, when he landed on the OU campus, he was invited to join the Sooner team. But another invitation changed his life: a chance to train at the IRANZ Rugby Academy in New Zealand. He brought new skills and a love of rugby back to OU, where, he says, “I gained weight fast thanks to the university funded nutrition plan and was soon weighing in at 240 pounds, a heavier weight for my 6 foot 4 inch frame.”
Taylor joined the OU rugby team and was soon named captain of the squad. When he made the 2008 World Cup team, “it was an opportunity to test my skills against rugby-centered nations such as South Africa, Samoa and Scotland.” He became even more passionate about the game.
Taylor overcame injury to play at the National Collegiate All Star Championships and was selected for the All-American Team traveling to England. The month-long tour exposed him to professional rugby programs, where “the rugby was relentless and at a much higher caliber.” There, he was named “Man of the Match,” an honor bestowed by competing players.
As Taylor prepares for his September Olympic tryouts, he appreciates the opportunities he’s been given and praises his parents, family members and coaches. “I hope to someday play professionally and to represent the United States at the highest level possible,” says Taylor. “Yes, I am aiming for the American Rugby Dream.”
