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The inaugural Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft is now complete. Two rounds of 12 were undertaken on Saturday morning with 10 teams taking part. Sitting out were the Houston SaberCats, Rugby United New York, and Toronto Arrows.
Players were drafted from 18 different schools, with a dozen States represented. Two players originate from outside the USA including one Canadian. Below is an overview of those selected.
ROUND 1
#1
Conner Mooneyham
Dallas Jackals
School: Life University
Home Town: Magnolia, Texas
Position: Outside Center / Wing
Age: 24
Height: 6′ (1.83m)
Weight: 200lbs (90kg)
2019 Collegiate All-American (2nd team)
#2
Brian Nault
NOLA Gold
School: Central Washington University
Home Town: Shelton, Washington
Position: Prop
Age: 23
Height: 6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight: 240lbs (109kg)
2013 High School All-American
2015 Junior All-American (u20)
2017 Junior All-American (u20)
#3
Derek Ellingson
Utah Warriors
School: St. Mary’s College
Home Town: Walnut Creek, California
Position: Outside Center / Wing
Age: 23
Height: 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight: 205lbs (93kg)
#4
Lui Sitama
Austin Gilgronis
School: American International College
Home Town: Olympia, Washington
Position: Center
Age: 23
Height: 5’9″ (1.74m)
Weight: 210lbs (95kg)
#5
Aaron Matthews
Seattle Seawolves
School: St. Mary’s College
Home Town: Irvine, California
Position: Flyhalf / Center
Age: 23
Height: 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight: 190lbs (86kg)
2018 Collegiate All-American (2nd team)
2019 Collegiate All-American (2nd team)
2019 Rudy Scholz Award Finalist
2020 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
#6
Justin Johnson
New England Free Jacks
School: Life University
Home Town: Inglewood, California
Position: Flanker
Age: 21
Height: 6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight: 215lbs (98kg)
2018 Junior All-American (u20)
2019 Collegiate All-American (2nd team)
#7
John Powers
Utah Warriors
School: Iona College
Home Town: Rockaway Park, New York
Position: Flyhalf / Fullback
Age: 22
Height: 6′ (1.83m)
Weight: 190 (87kg)
#8
Michael Matarazzo
Rugby ATL
School: University of Notre Dame
Home Town: Staten Island, New York
Position: Lock / No8
Age: 22
Height: 6’5″ (1.96m)
Weight: 230lbs (105kg)
2018 Collegiate All-American (3rd team)
#9
Tommy Clark
Dallas Jackals
School: American International College
Home Town: Olympia, Washington
Position: Blindside Flanker / No8
Age: 23
Height: 6’4″ (1.93m)
Weight: 235lbs (107kg)
2017 Junior All-American (u20)
2018 Collegiate All-American (2nd team)
2019 Collegiate All-American (3rd team)
2020 Rudy Scholz Award Finalist
#10
Andrew Guerra
NOLA Gold
School: Notre Dame College
Home Town: Chicago, Illinois
Position: Openside Flanker
Age: 22
Height: 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight: 215lbs (97kg)
#11
Casey Renaud
Old Glory DC
School: Kutztown University
Home Town: South Burlington, Vermont
Position: Lock
Age: 23
Height: 6’8″ (2.03m)
Weight: 245lbs (112kg)
#12
Patrick Madden
San Diego Legion
School: California Polytechnic State University
Home Town: San Diego, California
Position: Flyhalf / Inside Center
Age: 21
Height: 5’11” (1.80m)
Weight: 190lbs (87kg)
2018 Junior All-American (u20)
2020 Rudy Scholz Award Finalist
ROUND 2
#13
Levi van Lanen
Dallas Jackals
School: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Home Town: Pulaski, Wisconsin
Position: Center
Age: 23
Height: 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight: 230lbs (105kg)
2016 D2 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team)
2017 D2 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team)
2018 D2 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team)
2019 D2 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team)
#14
Watson Filikitonga
LA Giltinis
School: Iona College
Home Town: San Mateo, California
Position: Outside Center
Age: 22
Height: 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight: 215lbs (98kg)
#15
Danny Giannascoli
Utah Warriors
School: Loyola University Maryland
Home Town: Malvern, Pennsylvania
Position: Fullback
Age: 23
Height: 6’2″ (1.89m)
Weight: 200lbs (91kg)
2019 NSCRO All-American
2020 NSCRO All-American
#16
Mason Koch
Austin Gilgronis
School: Dartmouth College
Home Town: Coralville, Iowa
Position: Hooker
Age: 22
Height: 5’9″ (1.76m)
Weight: 220lbs (101kg)
#17
Nick Taylor
Seattle Seawolves
School: Lindenwood University
Home Town: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Position: Center
Age: 22
Height: 6′ (1.83m)
Weight: 200lbs (90kg)
2017 North American Barbarians 7s (u19)
2019 Canada FISU 7s
#18
Spencer Krueger
New England Free Jacks
School: Ohio State University
Home Town: Arlington Heights, Illinois
Position: Tighthead Prop
Age: 22
Height: 6’1″ (1.86m)
Weight: 260lbs (118kg)
2018 Collegiate All-American (3rd team)
#19
Elijah Hayes
Utah Warriors
School: Iowa Central Community College
Home Town: Destrehan, Louisiana
Position: Tighthead Prop
Age: 21
Height: 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight: 280lbs (128kg)
#20
John Scotti
Rugby ATL
School: Arkansas State University
Home Town: Ormond Beach, Florida
Position: Center / Wing
Age: 22
Height: 5’8″ (1.73m)
Weight: 195lbs (88kg)
#21
Bronson Teles
Dallas Jackals
School: University of Arizona
Home Town: Richmond, Texas
Position: Blindside Flanker
Age: 22
Height: 6’2″ (1.89m)
Weight: 245lbs (112kg)
2016 Junior All-American (u20)
2018 Junior All-American (u20)
2019 Collegiate All-American (2nd team)
2020 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
#22
Stephen McLeish
LA Giltinis
School: Lindenwood University
Home Town: Fishers, Indiana
Position: Hooker
Age: 20
Height: 5’11” (1.80m)
Weight: 240lbs (108kg)
2018 Junior All-American (u20)
2020 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
#23
Matthew Gordon
Old Glory DC
School: University of Mary Washington
Home Town: Aberdeen, Scotland
Position: Blindside Flanker / No8
Age: 23
Height: 6’4″ (1.94m)
Weight: 240lbs (110kg)
2019 Collegiate All-American (1st team)
#24
Cole Zarcone
San Diego Legion
School: Central Washington University
Home Town: Camas, Washington
Position: Wing
Age: 23
Height: 5’11” (1.80m)
Weight: 205lbs (93kg)
2019 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team)
2020 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
