Not your normal Colin, John or David that fits with most southern rugby players.
But the Highlander, who will start at fullback tonight against the Chiefs in the side's first pre-season match in Rotorua, says there is no mystery about his first name.
"There is nothing special behind it. I don't know why my mum called me that. It was either that or something like Jamal," he said.
But his name is one that will hopefully make an impact at Super 14 level for the Highlanders.
Dagg may be only 20 but he has already played three seasons of first-class rugby in the successful Hawkes Bay side and seen much of the world when in the New Zealand sevens squad.
And he is now a professional player.
Somewhat surprisingly, Dagg, who survived the legendary tough trainings of Tietjens while playing sevens, says training as a full-time rugby player over the past two months was the hardest he had encountered.
"It's pretty challenging. You are on your feet all day and there is just a lot of demands on your body. You have to treat your body like a temple," Dagg said.
"It's not like when you are playing for Hawkes Bay when you just turn up for training and then have a few hours off."
Dagg, who impressed at fullback for the Magpies last year, said the tougher training was undoubtedly helping him.
"I'm the fittest I have been and I'm doing the biggest weights I've ever done. It is helping no doubt. But that is what you have to do. You're getting good coin for it."
Dagg, who is flatting with team mates Jayden Hayward and George Naoupu, said he was stoked to learn of his selection at the Super 14 level, and especially with the Highlanders.
"It was great because I've got a lot of family - aunties and uncles - down here that I've never really seen, so it was good to meet them. I've also got a lot of friends from school down here at university."
Dagg went to Lindisfarne College in Hawkes Bay, the school former Otago and All Black players John Timu and Taine Randell attended.
But Dagg said there was no temptation to move south after school, as he was already playing for Hawkes Bay and was settled.
Dagg, who is part Maori, played mainly centre at school but switched to fullback when playing for Hawkes Bay and sees his future there.
He is the only specialist fullback in the Highlanders squad and said under the new rules it was a tough position to play.
"You might be on attack and the opposition might get a quick free kick, so you've got to run back really quickly and cover."
He is itching to hit the park tonight, and said everyone in the squad was ready for the game.
He is likely to play the first half of the game in Rotorua, which is being played in four 20min quarters.
Dagg will be part of a new-look starting backline, with just one player, Lucky Mulipola, having played for the Highlanders last year.
Centre and captain Jason Shoemark and first five-eight Matt Berquist have previously played for the Highlanders in 2005 and 2004 respectively.
The Highlanders had a disrupted trip to Rotorua yesterday. A wheel problem on the plane the team was travelling on forced it to return to Dunedin shortly after taking off at 10.05am.
The team then left at 11.30am, for Wellington, and was then split into two groups to get to Rotorua, with one group of 16 having to fly to Tauranga and then bus to Rotorua.
The group was expected to assemble in Rotorua about 7pm last night, nearly six hours after the scheduled arrival.
Tonight's game kicks off at 6pm and is refereed by Bryce Lawrence.
Highlanders v Chiefs
Rotorua, tonight, 6pm
Highlanders: Israel Dagg, Lucky Mulipola, Jason Shoemark, Jayden Hayward, Kenny Lynn, Mat Berquist, Sean Romans, Steven Setephano, Tim Boys, Hayden Triggs, Ross Kenedy, Anthony Perenise, David Hall, Keith Cameron.
Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Clint Newland, George Naoupu, Alando Soakai, Scott Cowan, Daniel Bowden, Pehi Te Whare, Johnny Leota, Brett Mather, Karne Hesketh.
Chiefs: James Wilson, Lelia Masaga, Jackson Willison, Dwayne Sweeney, Tim Mikkelson, Mike Delany, Toby Morland, Colin Bourke, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Craig Clarke, Toby Lynn, James McGougan, Aled de Malmanche, Joe Savage.
Reserves: Hika Elliot, Hikairo Forbes, Sona Taumalolo, Culum Retallick, Romana Graham, Luke Braid, Serge Lilo, Sione Lauaki, David Bason, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Callum Bruce, Richard Kahui, Save Tokula, Trent Renata.
