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Major League Rugby has confirmed the second edition of the Collegiate Draft will take place on August 19. There are two notable changes to the format – the addition of Canadian university athletes and the expansion from two to three rounds.
As with 2020, the order of selection will run inverse to the final standings with the last-place overall team selecting first of the 12 established franchises. The Toronto Arrows opted out of last year’s edition due to the absence of Canadian talent but will participate in 2021.
An additional team – the Dallas Jackals – could be given the first overall pick should their intention to participate in 2021 be confirmed. Dallas participated in the 2020 draft but subsequently withdrew from the MLR campaign in January, with three of their four selections opting to sign with other clubs.
All but one of the 24 players selected in the 2020 draft signed for MLR clubs though two have since been released. First round selections Conner Mooneyham (1st overall) and Andrew Guerra (10th overall) were recently selected to the USA Eagles squad for the July internationals.
With the COVID-19 pandemic seeing much of the Collegiate season cancelled across North America, athletes will only be required to have been enrolled at a post-secondary institution for the 2020-21 academic year. Further details on draft eligibility and an enrollment form can be found here.
