Top college prospects on display at MLR Rising

Collegiate rugby standouts from across North American will have a shot at impressing Major League Rugby scouts when they take part in the MLR Rising prospects match on Friday. A list of 50 players was announced by the league with three ruled out due to injury and another nine players unavailable.

The five-day camp, hosted by Mary Washington University, is an evolution of the Collegiate Rugby Shield that took place prior to the Draft in each of the past two years.

Players were selected from a list of 117 who have declared for the upcoming Collegiate Draft, with three two exceptions. Michigan State prop Miles Bell, a USA u20 long-listed inclusion, and Mary Washington flyhalf Cale White are expected to return to their schools. EDIT: Texas A&M flyhalf Alex Park is part of the SaberCats Academy but has now opted to enter the draft.

Dropping out from the original list were Lindenwood prop Asher Webb, UBC scrumhalf Jacob Bourne, and Central Washington center Calvin Liulamaga. Joining the group in their place are prop Hunter Chuhlantseff and flanker Lleyton Delzell, both from Saint Mary’s, and Ottawa flyhalf or fullback Jamie Armstrong.

Chuhlantseff and Delzell were initially on the unavailable list. Others include: Devon Roosa (LH, Louisville, SR), Alex Hernandez (TH, Marian, 5th), Aidan King (FL, Penn State, SR), Inoke Waqavesi (FH, Saint Mary’s, 5th), Darius Law (CE, Life, SR), Erich Storti (CE/FB, Saint Mary’s, 5th), Jake Nagrete (WI, Saint Mary’s, 5th), Oscar Treacy (WI, Central Washington, JR), and Jeron Pantor (FB, Life, 5th).

There is some international flavor to Friday’s match. Eight players taking part are from Canadian schools. One of them, Trinity Western back row Sam Tsoi, has six test caps for Hong Kong. Mary Washington hooker Nick Sydorowitz was part of Brazil’s senior ‘A’ training squad at the 2021 Americas Pacific Challenge. Wheeling loose forward Aaron Juma represented Zimbabwe u20 in 2021.

Friday’s MLR Rising prospects game kicks off at 11am Eastern, 8am Pacific. A live stream will be available on The Rugby Network. The Collegiate Draft is slated for late August though a date has yet to be confirmed. Players have until August 6th to submit declarations forms.