Dallas Departures – A Mock Dispersal Draft

The new that the Dallas Jackals have pulled out of the 2021 Major League Rugby season just two months ahead of its intended kickoff came without warning. Little explanation has been offered. While there is room to speculate on reasons beyond simply the pandemic, the most pressing issue at the moment is the fate of the 30 senior players known publicly who are suddenly without a club to play for.

According to the official release there will be a dispersal draft for the rights to those players. This must be held as a matter of expediency, ideally no later than this coming weekend though some accommodations will be required from the league.

The 12 remaining teams will have reached most if not all of their salary cap and import limits. On the latter there is unlikely to be much movement, but a modest if temporary boost in cap space should be approved to allow for the signing of Dallas players.

The draft method should be fairly straightforward, with the remaining expansion side LA given first choice followed by the 11 returning teams in reverse order of their finish in the 2020 season. That selection order has already been established at the inaugural MLR Collegiate Draft in June:

1 LA Giltinis
2 Houston SaberCats
3 Austin Gilgronis
4 Seattle Seawolves
5 New England Free Jacks
6 Utah Warriors
7 Rugby ATL
8 Rugby United New York
9 NOLA Gold
10 Old Glory DC
11 Toronto Arrows
12 San Diego Legion

On that occasion Toronto opted out of the draft while both Houston and New York traded out. All should participate this time, though trades or loan deals once rights are allocated are a near certainty. Two rounds should be sufficient to distribute the talent.

Not every player will find themselves with a new deal. The import players, in particular, will be difficult to accommodate given limitations but also the positional requirements of the remaining teams. In addition, there is also the case of the 10 extended squad members announced. One or two may find themselves elsewhere, most will be left in limbo.

With the above in mind it’s time to put on the GM cap and walk through a mock draft, if for no other reason than to entertain the needs of each team and where players might end up. Of course some teams have yet to reveal all of their signings which makes things difficult. All that can be done in this instance is to go by what is out in the open.

 

ROUND 1

1 – LA Giltinis
For all the criticism surrounding their branding, LA has put together an impressive roster that doesn’t have many gaps. They don’t have room for more imports but could use another couple bodies in the backs division. The decision could be either Chad London as a ready-for-battle midfielder or youngster Ryan James, a USA u20 standout who is highly rated and covers the outside backs. With no immediate backup for Glenn Bryce at fullback, the latter looks the best choice.

2 – Houston SaberCats
American-eligible locks, especially those with MLR experience, are proving difficult to come by. While the Cats already have strength in the second row, the addition of Kody O’Neil would allow Van Stewart to focus on blindside flanker and options for using Kyle Breytenbach or Apisai Tauyavuca in the back row.

3 – Austin Gilgronis
The Gilgronis could use another front rower, either at hooker or tighthead prop, but an experienced midfielder would be most welcome. Presuming LA doesn’t grab him first, Chad London is a good fit. He is already familiar with Bryce Campbell and the ability to play either 12 or 13 allows Frank Halai to be rotated or potentially used at his preferred wing spot.

4 – Seattle Seawolves
Seattle have some gaps in the forwards but one suspects there are new signings on the way. There are only two loosehead props on the roster, however, and an injury to either DJ Sears-Duru or Kellen Gordon would be problematic. Kelepi Fifita has switched from tighthead to loosehead and looks an ideal candidate to provide competition for the established duo.

5 – New England Free Jacks
The Free Jacks were on the lookout for more cover at inside center, and Tim O’Malley fits the bill and then some. With MLR captaincy experience, goal kicking, and plenty of experience at flyhalf, his upsides outweigh the cost of bringing on another import. Robbie Petzer is a similar player but O’Malley’s Mitre 10 style likely fits better with new coach Ryan Martin.

6 – Utah Warriors
There’s not much to think about here. Utah is thin at scrumhalf following the departure of Dwayne Polataivao. Carlo de Nysschen was set to start for Dallas, and would at least be in the mix with currently contracted duo Michael Baska and Fraser Hurst.

7 – Rugby ATL
One thing ATL definitely doesn’t need are loose forwards. As things stand they could afford to slot in an import player but there is also potentially a need for outside backs. Conner Mooneyham is a Life product who covers outside center or wing. The coaches are very familiar with him, and the first overall Collegiate Draft pick seems like a natural choice.

8 – Rugby United New York
The Roosters could use some depth at a couple spots but won’t be keen on imports. Looking at who is available, the best fit looks to be Peni Tagive. He is an experienced wing or outside center who also happens to be familiar with New York having turned out for Old Blue in the American Rugby Premiership.

9 – NOLA Gold
There aren’t many gaps anywhere on the Gold’s roster, so they will be looking for quality. Like ATL they also have some potential room for an import. Robbie Petzer can play flyhalf, inside center, or fullback and is of proven MLR standard. Even if it’s only a short-term signing for the 2021 season, he is someone who could give them a little more edge as they take a run at a first-ever post-season appearance.

10 – Old Glory DC
The OG’s still have some player announcements to give us, many of them in the backline. Judging by their roster last year and what’s available, they could use some midfield cover, and maybe a backup fullback. Dallas happened to have someone who can play both spots, and also hails from nearby Maryland. Campbell Johnstone should end up with DC one way or another.

11 – Toronto Arrows
Realistically there are only two players in the draft of interest to the Arrows. One is the most obvious. Hank Stevenson is the only Canadian on the list, and happens to have come from Ontario’s development program. The young second row is a natural choice here, though it’s just as likely he would then be loaned out for the season given Toronto already has four players who can cover lock.

12 – San Diego Legion
With Devereaux Ferris off to Seattle there’s only Nate Augspurger currently at No9 for the Legion. Unless de Nysschen is still available, which seems unlikely, the most obvious choice would be Cristian Rodriguez. Of course there’s a chance the lightning-quick halfback goes higher with NOLA a definite possibility, but the California native looks a better fit for San Diego.

 

ROUND 2

13 – LA Giltinis
There is currently no third-string tighthead in LA though scrum guru Alex Corbisiero is keen to have a look at either Mafi Seanoa or Blake Rogers on the right side. A ready-made solution would be to grab All-American select Kareem Odeh. He’s not starter material yet but he doesn’t need to be with Ruan Smith and Charlie Abel doing most of the heavy lifting.

14 – Houston SaberCats
There isn’t a lot left that attractive to the SaberCats, but there is a natural choice who would be a project for the future. Beefy loose forward Bronson Teles hails from Houston and gives them a profile they aren’t stacked with at the moment. The alternative would be Tommy Clark, but the home-town factor tips it for Teles.

15 – Austin Gilgronis
As mentioned above there is room for another front rower here. Chad Gough might ordinarily go much higher given his ability, but most teams already have three hookers signed up. Austin have two specialists plus Brendan Rams who covers both No2 or No3. Gough’s arrival would give them a second specialist hooker of starting quality.

16 – Seattle Seawolves
We’re not sure where Seattle sees Vili Toluta’u future, but if he physique at the World Tens Series is anything to go by it’s the front row. Regardless, a young strong-running back row to replace Eric Duechle or Andrew Durutalo when either or both inevitably calls it a day would be a useful. Tommy Clark step right up.

17 – New England Free Jacks
With the inside back now acquired, New England might opt for an outside back. Levi van Lanen is a big athlete who can play center or wing. He probably wouldn’t get a lot of game time but would be a good player to work with looking ahead to 2022.

18 – Utah Warriors
Another spot where the Warriors look thin at the moment is in the back row. Only five are currently signed up. There are three imports available from Dallas but one seems to fit better than the others. Wian Conradie can play flanker or No8 and would get an immediate vote of confidence from Namibia teammate Cliven Loubser.

19 – Rugby ATL
Young American talent suits Scott Lawrence, and decent tighthead props are worth their weight in gold. Will Burke would give them another domestic prospect to join Julian Montes, Jonas Petrakopoulos, and Lincoln Sii as backups behind starters Chance Wenglewski and Duane Aholelei.

20 – Rugby United New York
This is a bit of a weird one, but the one that makes the most sense at this point in the draft. RUNY are one front rower short and an immediate return of hooker Mike Brown would let Wilton Rebolo stick to tighthead prop. It’s possible they would consider one of the Fijian backs but there are already enough imports on the roster.

21 – NOLA Gold
The Gold could also consider one of the Fijians here, but some decent squad cover is probably all that’s required. Jinho Mun is a lively scrumhalf who would be a solid third option behind Holden Yungert and new arrival Damian Stevens. Cian Barry is currently in that slot but also covers flyhalf and fullback.

22 – Old Glory DC
Loosehead prop looks to be a little thin at the moment for DC with Jake Turnbull set to sign for a competitor. Skyler Adams has seen almost no game time in MLR but is young enough and American so worth a shot at this stage in the draft, with Jamie Dever and Jack Iscaro ahead on the pecking order.

23 – Toronto Arrows
As mentioned above, only two players are realistically of interest to the Arrows. The second would be Argentine loose forward Conrado Roura. There is already a strong contingent of South Americans to make him feel right at home, and there is room for one more flanker if Peter Milazzo opts not to play on in 2021 which is a distinct possibility.

24 – San Diego Legion
Everyone left is an import which isn’t great for San Diego but they could use a little insurance in the front row. Marco Fepulea’i can come in and provide support for Hencus van Wyk at tighthead prop. Even if he doesn’t make the lineup every game he would be good to have in reserve.

 

FREE AGENTS

That leaves six senior players without contracts: Scottish hooker James Malcolm, Samoan lock Theo McFarland, South African No8 Pikkie de Villiers, and Fijian trio Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Jonetani Vasurakuta, and Josataki Degei who play flyhalf, outside center, and fullback respectively. Malcolm may be of interest to Old Glory if he has visa clearance, similarly McFarland might have a few teams calling. de Villiers might also be considered at Utah. The Fijians have obvious talent but one suspects are most likely not to arrive.

Also out in the cold are the ten extended squad members: props Ryheem Powell, Henry Hall, Adonnis Lee-Johnson, and Ma’ake Muti, hooker Matt Frings, flyhalf Nate Lyon, centers Calvin Gentry and Patrick Medina, winger Kelly Kolberg, and fullback Chaz Schwenk. Of those USA u20 selects Hall and Medina might be of interest, or possibly Collegiate All-American Gentry.