MLR Collegiate Draft 2023 Preview

The fourth edition of the Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft will be broadcast on Thursday. As in previous years the draft itself will already have been completed, in this case two days prior. 12 teams will take part, with the exception being Old Glory DC who have already traded their three picks.

For the first time a team other than Dallas will have the first overall selection. It’s the incoming Miami Sharks who will have the first choice, with Houston picking second via trade and the Jackals third. Ironically it’s the to-be-relocated ATL side who have the most selections with five.

 

FORMAT

As with previous years, regular season points were used to determine the draft order, with the lower-ranked team picking first. The determination of the draft order works as follows:

1	expansion side
2-8	regular season points
9/10	playoff qualifiers
11/12	conference finalists
12	runners-up
13	champions

Several trades contributed to alterations in the picking order. Most recently the Arrows traded their 2nd-overall pick to Houston, while NOLA acquired the 7th overall pick from Utah and the 11th overall pick from Seattle. Notably Rugby ATL will be making selections despite confirmation that the franchise will be relocated for the 2024 season.

The draft order as it stands is as follows:

ROUND 1	ROUND 2	ROUND 3
1 Miami Sharks	14 Miami Sharks	27 Miami Sharks
2 Houston SaberCats	15 Toronto Arrows	28 Toronto Arrows
3 Dallas Jackals	16 Chicago Hounds	29 Dallas Jackals
4 Chicago Hounds	17 Chicago Hounds	30 Chicago Hounds
5 Rugby ATL*	18 Rugby ATL*	31 Rugby ATL*
6 NOLA Gold	19 Utah Warriors	32 Dallas Jackals
7 NOLA Gold	20 Utah Warriors	33 Utah Warriors
8 New York Ironworkers	21 New York Ironworkers	34 New York Ironworkers
9 Houston SaberCats	22 Utah Warriors	35 Houston SaberCats
10 San Diego Legion	23 New England Free Jacks	36 Dallas Jackals
11 NOLA Gold	24 Seattle Seawolves	37 Rugby ATL*
12 San Diego Legion	25 San Diego Legion	38 San Diego Legion
13 New England Free Jacks	26 New England Free Jacks	39 Rugby ATL*

 

ELIGIBILITY

Players are required to declare their entry to the draft. They are then posted on the Draft Prospects page of the MLR website. At last check 105 names were listed on the page, a drop from the 174 of a year ago. Several players put their names forward for a second time.

In order to declare players must have played rugby during the 2022-2023 academic year and have either completed three years of college or be at least 21 years old. Athletes from both US and Canadian schools are able to enter the draft.

Those who declare and are not drafted become free agents. Players who are eligible but opt to skip the draft will have to miss the entire 2024 season before being allowed to play, though MLR notes they may grant an exception on a case-by-case basis.

 

THE PROSPECTS

FRONT ROW

Domestic props might be in high demand in MLR, but they are not found in abundance in this draft class. Life tighthead Jared Miller traveled with the USA Selects (now Falcons) in 2021 and is the only prop of representative note available.

Hooker looks a little more interesting with USA u23 select Gabe Mahu’inga likely at the top of the list. Scott Bowers played with the Pacific Pride, Canada’s development side, and Jonah Auva’a has USA u20 selection on his resume. Aaron Juma is a physical specimen who has played for Zimbabwe u20 but his import status will surely count against him.

SECOND ROW

There are more locks worth looking at this year than a year ago, and some with genuine size. James Rivers has played for Hong Kong u20s and notably will be US-eligible in another year. Arizona’s player of the year for the past two seasons, he is a strong candidate to go high in the first round. St. Bonaventure’s Rick Rose is the tallest man available at 6’7″ (2.01m), and Charlie Overton is a Collegiate All-American.

BACK ROW

While there are plenty of names to file through in the back row, there are few with dominant physical presence available this year. Life’s Orrin Bizer is highly rated and has played for the USA u23 7s side but has ordinary size at pro level. The same can be said for hard-hitting SMC flanker Ronnie McElligott.

Lindenwood’s Cian Darling has played for Leinster age-grade sides and should be US-eligible on residency soon. Central Washington duo Marques Fuala’au and Albert O’Shannessey are worth a look, though the latter – from New Zealand – has a ways to go before reaching the 5-year residency mark to become domestic. Arizona openside Abe Turpen, a converted center, could be a bit of a bolter after showing well at the Collegiate Rugby Shield.

HALFBACKS

It’s thin pickings at scrumhalf this year with the best prospect, Lindenwood’s Mattéo Peignon, unlikely to get much interest due to his import status. Central Washington’s Noah Wright has won USA u23 honors and is likely the best domestic option.

For the flyhalves it’s a similar story with the impressive Keelin Coyle out of St. Bonaventure a long way from achieving residency. Wheeling’s Tino Chipfumbu is another Zimbabwe u20 cap but also falls in the import category. Of the domestic talent, keep an eye on Life playmaker Julian Roberts who has impressive footwork and a decent left boot.

MIDFIELD

As the only fully-capped international available, Canada debutant Gabe Casey stands out as the best bet in the midfield. Arrows fans might recall his name after his selection last year, but he opted not to sign with Toronto and now looks to be snapped up by another team.

Junior Gafa is an impressive athlete though he hasn’t played much rugby in recent years, instead playing collegiate football with Brown University. Lindenwood’s Rhys Smith and Hugh Johnston of Notre Dame College both look handy but again lose points by virtue of being imports.

OUTSIDE BACKS

Santa Clara speedster Daelan Denenberg and Lindenwood dynamo Tyren Al-Jiboori are the wingers to watch, with both selected for the USA u23s last year. The latter is the brother of Houston back row Malon Al-Jiboori. Other family connections worth a look are Fresno State’s Isaia Kruse, brother of Utah star Mika Kruse, and St. Bonaventure’s Lorenzo Villani, brother of last year’s 2nd-overall pick Sebastiano Villani.

At fullback you’ll find one of the top prospects in the draft in Cal Berkeley’s Max Schumacher. He ticks all the boxes when it comes to looking for a player who can make an immediate impression in MLR. Schumacher boasts an array of skills, can fill in at flyhalf if needed, and is a handy left-footed goal-kicker. It’s no surprise that many are expecting him to go in the top spot.

 

WHO GOES FIRST?

Last year it was Sam Golla and while there’s no real equivalent this year, his former teammate Max Schumacher isn’t miles off. He’s a shoe-in to go in the top 3 and the clear betting favorite for No1. That said Miami’s recruitment may lead them in another direction.

James Rivers still has a year to go to become domestic, but it seems a small price to pay to get a promising lock of genuine international size. A third option might be Gabe Casey, who made his test debut for Canada against Tonga and is a certainty to become the first player to be selected twice in the Collegiate Draft.

 

HOW TO WATCH

The draft will be broadcast on Thursday evening starting at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern. 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.