Major League Rugby completed a Dispersal Draft for players contracted to the New York Ironworkers and Toronto Arrows on Wednesday. The two sides were forced to fold when new ownership deals fell through. All 11 remaining teams took part, including the yet-to-be unveiled Los Angeles side.
A total of 65 players opted into the draft, from which 30 were selected. Of those, 20 came from New York and 10 from Toronto. As expected the majority were domestic, with only five international players chosen. Opportunities for the latter were limited with most teams already at or beyond their match day limit within their squads.
It should be noted that selection only grants player negotiation rights, terms of the deal must still be agreed by the two parties before a player is officially signed. The rights can also be traded. Those who opted into the draft but were not selected are now free to sign with any club before or during the season. Contracts for all players who opted in are exempt from the salary cap.
In addition to the below, Dylan Fawsitt signed with the Chicago Hounds as a free agent prior to the draft and Sam Windsor will join the Seattle Seawolves. Both were intending to play for New York but were not under contract. Arrows captain Lucas Rumball was also a free agent and ARN has learned he will join Fawsitt in Chicago. Aaron Cruden and New York draft pick Nick Lapponese opted out.
## | TEAM | PLAYER | FROM | POS |
ROUND 1
1 | TYLER WONG (D) | HO | ||
2 | MITCH RICHARDSON (D) | CE | ||
3 | MASON FLESCH (D) | LO/FL | ||
4 | LA | TYLER ROWLAND (D) | TH | |
5 | ED FIDOW (I) | WI | ||
6 | NATE AUGSPURGER (D) | SH/WI | ||
7 | PASS | |||
8 | CONNOR BUCKLEY (D) | SH | ||
9 | CHANCE WENGLEWSKI (D) | LH | ||
10 | CHARLIE HEWITT (D) | LO | ||
11 | KALEB GEIGER (D) | TH |
ROUND 2
12 | JOE BASSER (D) | FL/N8 | ||
13 | NIC BENN (D) | CE/WI | ||
14 | BRAD TUCKER (D) | LO/FL | ||
15 | LA | JASON EMERY (I) | CE/FH | |
16 | CALLUM BOTCHAR (D) | LO/FL | ||
17 | ROBBIE POVEY (D) | FH/FB | ||
18 | DAQUAN PERRY (D) | HO | ||
19 | JOHN POWERS (D) | WI/FB | ||
20 | PAGO HAINI (D) | N8 | ||
21 | CHRIS MATTINA (D) | FH/FB | ||
22 | PASS |
ROUND 3
23 | ISHMAIL SHABAZZ (D) | CE/WI | ||
24 | CONNOR GRINDAL (D) | LH | ||
25 | PASS | |||
26 | LA | ANDREW COE (D) | WI/FB | |
27 | TOM FRANKLIN (I) | LO | ||
28 | PASS | |||
29 | ANTHONY PARRY (D) | LH | ||
30 | PASS | |||
31 | PASS | |||
32 | PASS | |||
33 | PASS |
ROUND 4
34 | JAMES SHERIDAN (D) | LH/TH | ||
35 | CIARAN BREEN (D) | WI/FB | ||
36 | PASS | |||
37 | LA | PASS | ||
38 | FELIPE ALIAGA (I) | LO | ||
39 | PASS | |||
40 | PASS | |||
41 | PASS | |||
42 | PASS | |||
43 | PASS | |||
44 | PASS |
ROUND 5
45 | PASS | |||
46 | BRAEMAR MURRAY (D) | LO/N8 | ||
47 | PASS | |||
48 | LA | PASS | ||
49 | SAM MALCOLM (I) | FH/FB | ||
50 | PASS | |||
51 | PASS | |||
52 | PASS | |||
53 | PASS | |||
54 | PASS | |||
55 | PASS |
(D) = domestic, (I) = international