MLR completes Dallas dispersal draft

Major League Rugby has confirmed that a dispersal draft for players signed by the Dallas Jackals was completed on Friday. All 12 remaining teams took part in the draft, though only 12 Dallas players were made available. This was supplemented with six collegiate athletes who were waivered from the earlier draft due to extenuating circumstances. Selections have not been made public at this time.

The Dallas number was reduced from 30 due to accommodations made by the league. Seven players on part-time (APC) contracts were made unrestricted free agents, while four full-time (SPC) contracted players opted to withdraw from the draft and take a severance payment. One of those is Argentine back row Conrado Roura, who has signed for SLAR side Peñarol.

A further seven players were international arrivals who are awaiting visa clearance. Those players have been made unrestricted free agents, though they will not count as ‘import’ players for the 2021 season. Signings from Dallas will also not count towards the salary cap for 2021.

The 10 extended roster or ‘development’ players named by Dallas are now unrestricted free agents. That group, however, are not subject to the same salary cap allowances.

SPC/APC
Skyler Adams (LH), Kelepi Fifita (LH/TH), Will Burke (TH), Marco Fepulea’i (TH), Kareem Odeh (TH), Mike Brown (HO), Chad Gough (HO), Kody O’Neil (LO), Hank Stevenson (LO), Bronson Teles (FL), Tommy Clark (FL/N8), Carlo de Nysschen (SH), Jinho Mun (SH), Cristian Rodriguez (SH/FB), Tim O’Malley (FH/CE), Robbie Petzer (FH/CE), Chad London (CE), Levi van Lanen (CE), Conner Mooneyham (CE/WI), Peni Tagive (CE/WI), Campbell Johnstone (CE/FB), Ryan James (WI/FB)

OPT-OUTS
Conrado Roura (FL/N8, Peñarol, UR) + three from above list

INTERNATIONAL
James Malcolm (HO), Theo McFarland (LO), Wian Conradie (FL/N8), Pikkie de Villiers (N8), Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (FH), Jonetani Vasurakuta (CE/WI), Josateki Degei (FB)

DEVELOPMENT
Adonnis Lee-Johnson (LH/CE), Ryheem Powell (LH), Ma’ake Muti (LH/TH), Henry Hall (TH), Matt Frings (HO), Nate Lyon (FH), Calvin Gentry (CE), Patrick Medina (CE/WI), Kelly Kolberg (WI), Chaz Schwenk (FB)