Daniel Adongo

Daniel Adongo (born (1989-10-12)12 October 1989) is a Kenyan American football player for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League and former rugby union player.

Rugby union

As a rugby player, he can play either as a lock or a flanker and last played Super Rugby for the Kings in the 2013 Super Rugby season.^[1][2]

Youth

In Kenya, he played for Strathmore School, where he was also crowned Sportsman of the Year. He joined the Kenya Harlequins junior team. He was spotted by South African scouts at the 2006 Safari Sevens tournament, playing in the schools category for Strathmore School. In 2007, he joined to the Natal Sharks academy. He progressed from Under–19 level in 2008 to Under–21 level in 2010.

Sharks

He was included in the Sharks XV squad for the 2010 Vodacom Cup, but failed to play in any matches. He did play in twelve Under–21 matches later in the year and was once again included in the squad for the 2011 Vodacom Cup competition, where he made his debut in the opening match of the season, a 30–19 victory over the Blue Bulls.^[3] He made a total of ten appearances in that competition, scoring three tries. He was also included in the Natal Sharks squad for the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division, but failed to feature in that competition.

Blue Bulls

At the end of 2011, he was signed by the Blue Bulls. He made eight appearances for them in the 2012 Vodacom Cup, but he was then released from his contract after just six months to join New Zealand ITM Cup team Counties Manukau.^[4]

Counties Manukau

He joined Counties Manukau prior to the 2012 ITM Cup. He made his debut against Southland^[5] and played in eight matches for them on their way to winning the Championship and subsequent promotion to the Premiership.^[6] However, he wasn't named in their 2013 squad.^[7]

Kings

He joined the Kings from Counties Manukau for the 2013 Super Rugby season.^[8] He was an unused substitute in the Kings' historic first ever match against the Force,^[9] but he did make his Super Rugby debut the following week, coming on as a late substitute against his former team the Sharks.^[10] He also appeared against the Chiefs and then made his first Super Rugby start against the Crusaders in Christchurch.^[11] However, after another substitute appearance against the Brumbies, he fell below Rynier Bernardo in the pecking order and reverted to playing domestic rugby, playing three matches for the Eastern Province Kings in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition. One more substitute appearance in the home victory over the Highlanders followed, as well as playing the opening match of the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season, but his season then came to a premature end following a torn bicep injury.^[12]

Varsity Cup

He also played for UP Tuks in the 2012 Varsity Cup, playing in three matches.

International

Internationally, he played for the Kenyan Under–18 and Under–21 national teams, and, although he initially expressed a desire to play for South Africa internationally,^[13] he declared himself available for Kenya for the 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying series.^[14]

American football

On 25 July 2013, the NFL's Indianapolis Colts announced that they signed Adongo as an outside linebacker despite the fact that he had no prior American football experience.^[15][16] After spending time as a member of the Colts' practice squad, Adongo was added to the Colts' active roster on 3 December 2013.^[17] Adongo appeared in two games for the Colts in 2013, but did not record a tackle.

On August 7, 2014, Adongo received a bicep injury during a pre-season game, and was waived with the injury designation by the Colts the following day. When he cleared waivers, he reverted to the Indianapolis Colts' injured reserve.^[18]

References