Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The decision of the expansion Dallas Jackals to withdraw from the 2021 Major League Rugby season left 30 confirmed signings without a team. Some were entered in a supplementary draft that also included some college athletes, while others were released from their contract and are now free agents.
To date ten players have found new homes within MLR, with three joining teams abroad and one an external domestic program. The status of two of the ten players selected in the draft is unclear meaning it’s not known if they were signed by the team they were drafted by, traded, or simply not signed.
Of the ten development players named by the Jackals, three – namely hooker Matt Frings, flyhalf Nate Lyon, and wing Kelly Kolberg – have returned to their club sides. The other seven are possibly now affiliated with new MLR teams. This includes props Adonnis Lee-Johnson, Ryheem Powell, Ma’ake Muti, and Henry Hall, and backs Calvin Gentry, Patrick Medina, and Chaz Schwenk.
The list below is a summary of the information we have to date:
| POS | NAME | ELIGIBILITY | ACQUISITION | DESTINATION |
| LH | Skyler Adams | USA | signed from Austin Gilgronis |
Opted out of the supplementary draft and is currently unsigned. |
| LH | Kelepi Fifita | USA | signed from Colorado Raptors |
Selected in the first round of the supplementary draft and his current status is unclear. |
| HO | Mike Brown | USA | signed from Rugby United New York |
Currently unsigned. |
| HO | Chad Gough | USA | signed from Colorado Raptors |
Selected in the second round of the supplementary draft but is currently unsigned. |
| HO | James Malcolm | Scotland | signed from London Scottish (UK) |
Currently unsigned. |
| TH | Will Burke | USA | signed from Rugby United New York |
Currently unsigned. |
| TH | Marco Fepulea’i | NZ / Samoa | signed from Colorado Raptors |
Currently unsigned. |
| TH | Kareem Odeh | USA | signed from Life Running Eagles |
Currently unsigned. |
| LO | Theo McFarland | Samoa | signed from Manuma Samoa (WS) |
Undrafted free agent, he is now training with the Samoa Sevens squad in preparation for the upcoming Olympic qualifier. |
| LO | Kody O’Neil | USA | signed from Colorado Raptors |
Selected in the first round of the supplementary draft and signed by the Houston SaberCats. |
| LO | Hank Stevenson | Canada | signed from Toronto Nomads |
Currently unsigned. |
| FL | Bronson Teles | USA | drafted from Arizona Wildcats |
Signed with his hometown Houston SaberCats as a free agent. |
| FL/N8 | Wian Conradie | Namibia | signed from Doncaster Knights (UK) |
Currently unsigned. |
| FL/N8 | Tommy Clark | USA | drafted from AIC Yellow Jackets |
Signed with his hometown Seattle Seawolves as a free agent. |
| FL/N8 | Conrado Roura | Argentina | signed from Ceibos (AR) |
Opted out of the supplementary draft and signed with Uruguayan SLAR franchise Peñarol. |
| N8 | Pikkie de Villiers | South Africa | signed from Golden Lions (SA) |
Currently unsigned. |
| SH | Carlo de Nysschen | USA | signed from Colorado Raptors |
Selected in the first round of the supplementary draft and signed by the San Diego Legion. |
| SH | Jinho Mun | South Korea | signed from Dallas Harlequins |
Selected in the second round of the supplementary draft and signed by the Houston SaberCats. |
| SH | Cristian Rodriguez | USA | signed from Belmont Shore |
Signed with his hometown LA Giltinis as a free agent. |
| FH | Tuidraki Samusamuvodre | Fiji | signed from Naitasiri (FI) |
Signed by an MLR team to be announced as a free agent. |
| FH/CE | Tim O’Malley | New Zealand | signed from Tasman Mako (NZ) |
Opted out of the supplementary draft and is currently training with the Crusaders. |
| FH/CE | Robbie Petzer | South Africa | signed from Colorado Raptors |
Selected in the first round of the supplementary draft and subsequently traded to and signed by Rugby ATL. |
| CE | Chad London | USA | signed from Colorado Raptors |
Opted out of the supplementary draft and is currently unsigned. |
| CE | Levi van Lanen | USA | drafted from Wisconsin-Whitewater |
Currently unsigned. |
| CE/WI | Conner Mooneyham | USA | drafted from Life Running Eagles |
Selected in the first round of the supplementary draft and signed by the Austin Gilgronis. |
| CE/WI | Jonetani Vasurakuta | Fiji | signed from Nadroga (FI) |
Selected in the first round of the supplementary draft but is currently unsigned. |
| CE/WI | Peni Tagive | USA | signed from Austin Gilgronis |
Currently unsigned. |
| CE/FB | Campbell Johnstone | USA | signed from Colorado Raptors |
Undrafted free agent, has joined the Colorado XOs according to Colton Strickler of DNVR Rugby. |
| WI/FB | Ryan James | USA | signed from Colorado Raptors |
Selected in the second round of the supplementary draft and signed by the LA Giltinis. |
| FB | Josateki Degei | Fiji | signed from Namosi (FI) |
Selected in the first round of the supplementary draft and his current status is unclear. |
