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The second edition of the Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft takes place on the evening of Thursday, August 19. A total of 13 teams will take part, the 12 established sides joined by the Dallas Jackals.
Dallas also participated in the inaugural event last year but subsequently dropped out of the league prior to the start of the season. Despite this, the Jackals have again been granted first overall pick.
FORMAT
Where last year’s draft was just two rounds, this year will add a third. It should be noted that additional collegiate players were made available, with seven selected, in a two-round supplementary draft used to disperse the rights to Dallas signings.
Notably all returning teams will have picks this year. The Toronto Arrows opted out entirely last season while the Houston SaberCats and Rugby United New York traded their selections. Both New York and Toronto took part in the supplementary draft.
Following Dallas, the collegiate draft order has been set by reverse order to how the teams placed during the 2021 season. None of the three rounds will take place in that order, however, as several trades have been made, as follows:
– Old Glory DC 1st round pick traded to Rugby United New York
– Rugby United New York 1st and 2nd round picks traded to Dallas Jackals
– Utah Warriors and NOLA Gold swap 1st round spots
– NOLA Gold and Toronto Arrows swap 3rd round spots
ELIGIBILITY
All players considered were individually registered. With the collegiate season being virtually wiped out due to the pandemic, enrollment at a post-secondary institution was considered sufficient though the criteria also stipulates that players have either completed three years of school or be 21 years of age.
Notably this season sees the inclusion of players from Canada for the first time. Visa limitations precluded their involvement in 2020 and it’s not clear what progress has been made in that regard, but it does give the Arrows options to choose from.
TOP PROSPECTS
Given the lack of footage available for so many this season it was difficult to track the progress of those making themselves available. That said there are several players on the registered list – which totals 168 players – worth noting due to previous representative honors.
Four nominees for the prestigious Rudy Scholz Award recognizing the USA’s top collegiate player are included. They include a pair of eightmen in Lindenwood’s Tinashe Muchena and Arizona’s Riley Kerr, Life fullback George Phelan, and the eventual winner – Lindenwood flanker Emmanuel Albert.
Phelan was named to the Collegiate Sevens Championship All-Tournament team along with three others on the list, all back row players – Western Michigan’s Joseph Backe, Life’s Chase Schor-Haskin, and Lindenwood’s Marnus Spangenburg.
Midfielder Tavite Lopeti from Saint Mary’s was a 1st Team Collegiate All-American select in 2019. 2nd team selections that year include Navy lock or loose forward Phil Dalke and Memphis center Calvin Gentry. Gentry had been signed to the extended roster for Dallas last season, while Dalke also earned All-American honors in sevens.
3rd Team Collegiate All-Americans from 2019 in the draft include two flankers – Kutztown’s Gerald Lowe and Peter Jean of Penn State – and Kutztown winger Aaron Gray, who has also represented the USA Falcons Sevens side. Iowa Central outside back Anelisa Mteto was a 2nd team select in 2018.
Two standouts from the World Tens Series are named. Flanker Patrick Regan and fullback Eric Naposki are both UCLA players who suited up for the Rhinos in Bermuda. Naposki is a two-time Sevens All-American including 1st Team honors in 2018. Lindenwood flyhalf Coleson Warner was a 2nd Team Sevens pick in 2019.
Three former USA u20 forwards are on the list. Arkansas State’s Asa Carter played lock for that team but projects as a back row in MLR. The other two are front rowers – AIC prop Daryl Bagley and Sam Houston State hooker Dillon Shotwell.
On the Canadian side of things, former national u20 captain and UVic openside flanker James O’Neill may be the most accomplished player in the draft having also excelled at the senior provincial level. Other u20 caps include props Emerson Prior and Bryce Worden of Trent and UBC respectively, and Bishop’s midfielder Jack Shaw.
UVic flyhalf Logan Martin-Feek and UBC center Connor Byron have both suited up for Canada at u19 level. Lethbridge center Michael McTighe was part of Canada’s FISU Sevens side in 2019. Montreal winger Mehdy Molina originally hails from France and has represented Algeria in sevens.
HOW TO WATCH
The draft will take place at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern time on Thursday evening. Those in the USA can watch the first hour on Fox Sports 2, with coverage then switching to The Rugby Network. Those located outside the USA can watch the entirety of proceedings on The Rugby Network.
