photo credit: Rebecca Harper / SMC Athletics

2024 MLR College Draft Summary

Americas Rugby News August 28, 2024 Canada, USA Leave a comment 1,216 Views

The fifth edition of Major League Rugby’s College Draft is now complete. A total of 36 players were selected across three rounds with all 12 teams from the 2024 season participating. As widely expected, the first overall selection by Anthem was US Eagles training squad member Erich Storti.

Leading the way in numbers called this year was Saint Mary’s College, the Gaels contributing six players including the first overall selection. Life University and Lindenwood University had three players each chosen. Players came from 23 different schools, including three from Canada.

A third of the three-dozen chosen had international age grade selection on their resume, with a 16 players earning Collegiate All-American honors. The rough positional breakdown is as follows:

Prop	5
Hooker	2
Second Row	2
Back Row	9
Scrumhalf	3
Flyhalf / Fullback	4
Center	8
Wing	3

Seattle selected two of the Canadians, with dual-eligible Neil Trainor going to Anthem. Aidan Ridgway and Sebastian Schefermann are working towards US-eligibility under the revised residency regulation. Both were selected by Old Glory, who also chose Zimbabwe Sables training squad member Aaron Juma.

ROUND 1

Erich Storti

Anthem RC

School	Saint Mary’s College
Home Town	Concord, California
Eligibility	USA
Position	Center / Fullback
Age	23
Height	6′ (1.83m)
Weight	200lbs (90kg)

2020 USA u20
2022 CRAA All-American (2nd team)
2023 USA Eagles (training squad)
2024 CRAA All-American (1st team)
2024 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
2024 USA Eagles (training squad)

Neil Trainor

Anthem RC

School	Queen’s University
Home Town	Columbia, Maryland
Eligibility	USA / Canada
Position	Hooker
Age	23
Height	5’10” (1.78m)
Weight	230lbs (105kg)

2024 Rugby Canada Pacific Pride

School	Lindenwood University
Home Town	Chicago, Illinois
Eligibility	USA / Germany
Position	Flanker
Age	23
Height	6’4″ (1.93m)
Weight	220lbs (100kg)

School	Life University
Home Town	San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago
Eligibility	USA / Trinidad & Tobago
Position	Flyhalf / Fullback
Age	25
Height	5’10” (1.78m)
Weight	185lbs (85kg)

School	Pennsylvania State University
Home Town	Anchorage, Alaska
Eligibility	USA / Australia
Position	Flanker
Age	22
Height	6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight	220lbs (100kg)

School	University of California, Berkeley
Home Town	Corte Madera, California
Eligibility	USA
Position	Back Row
Age	23
Height	6′ (1.83m)
Weight	210lbs (95kg)

School	Indiana University
Home Town	Leo-Cedarville, Indiana
Eligibility	USA
Position	Center
Age	23
Height	6′ (1.83m)
Weight	210lbs (95kg)

School	Central Washington University
Home Town	Auburn, Washington
Eligibility	USA
Position	Center
Age	23
Height	6′ (1.84m)
Weight	220lbs (100kg)

School	Rensselaer Polytechnic Insitute
Home Town	Freehold, New Jersey
Eligibility	USA
Position	Lock / Back Row
Age	21
Height	6’5″ (1.95m)
Weight	250lbs (113kg)

School	University of Arizona
Home Town	Marietta, Georgia
Eligibility	USA
Position	Center
Age	22
Height	6′ (1.83m)
Weight	215lbs (98kg)

School	Arkansas State University
Home Town	Johannesburg, South Africa
Eligibility	South Africa
Position	Scrumhalf / Flyhalf
Age	23
Height	5’11” (1.80m)
Weight	185lbs (84kg)

School	Brigham Young University
Home Town	Herriman, Utah
Eligibility	USA
Position	Wing
Age	23
Height	6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight	215lbs (97kg)

School	Wheeling University
Home Town	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Eligibility	Zimbabwe
Position	Back Row
Age	23
Height	6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight	230lbs (104kg)

School	Queens University of Charlotte
Home Town	Wellington, Florida
Eligibility	USA
Position	Hooker
Age	22
Height	5’9″ (1.75m)
Weight	235lbs (107kg)

School	University of Utah
Home Town	Anchorage, Alaska
Eligibility	USA
Position	Number Eight
Age	22
Height	6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight	245lbs (112kg)

School	University of Ottawa
Home Town	Ottawa, Ontario
Eligibility	Canada
Position	Tighthead Prop
Age	25
Height	6′ (1.83m)
Weight	270lbs (122kg)

School	Notre Dame College
Home Town	Toledo, Ohio
Position	Wing
Age	23
Height	5’10” (1.78m)
Weight	170lbs (78kg)

School	California State University, Long Beach
Home Town	Santa Monica, California
Eligibility	USA / England / New Zealand
Position	Tighthead Prop
Age	23
Height	6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight	285lbs (130kg)

School	University of Mary Washington
Home Town	Durban, South Africa
Eligibility	South Africa
Position	Center / Fullback
Age	21
Height	6’4″ (1.93m)
Weight	215lbs (98kg)

School	Adrian College
Home Town	Layton, Utah
Position	Flanker
Age	23
Height	6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight	235lbs (106kg)

School	University of California, Santa Barbara
Home Town	Danville, California
Position	Loosehead Prop / Hooker
Age	21
Height	6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight	250lbs (113kg)

School	Marian University
Home Town	Indianapolis, Indiana
Eligibility	USA / Mexico
Position	Prop
Age	22
Height	6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight	275lbs (125kg)

2024 MLR College Draft Summary

About Americas Rugby News

Related Articles

Rugby Canada appoints Steve Meehan as new Head Coach

Retirement call from Eagles captain Greg Peterson

Qualifiers, Venue Planning and the Draw for Rugby World Cup 2027

Check Also

Argentines Leave Their Mark in latest round of European Champions Cup

School	Santa Clara University
Home Town	Old Greenwich, Connecticut
Eligibility	USA / China
Position	Scrumhalf
Age	22
Height	5’9″ (1.74m)
Weight	170lbs (78kg)