2021 MLR Draft
General information
Date(s)August 19, 2021
Overview
39 total selections in 3 rounds
LeagueMajor League Rugby
First selectionEric Naposki, Fullback, Dallas Jackals
Most selections (5)Dallas Jackals
Fewest selections (2)Rugby United New York

The 2021 MLR Collegiate Draft was the second annual for rugby union in North America. On August 19, 2021, the MLR hosted their second collegiate MLR Draft.[1]

Format

The MLR Collegiate Draft 2021 took place on Thursday, August 19, 2021. For viewers in the United States, the first hour of the Draft was broadcast on FS2 at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Following the first hour, coverage switched to The Rugby Network. For viewers outside of the U.S., the entire Draft was streamed on The Rugby Network beginning at 6:30 p.m. EDT.[2]

Like the inaugural draft, MLR used a "Draft-and-Follow" approach, meaning rights to drafted players was assigned following the MLR Collegiate Draft. MLR teams may activate those rights at any point until the mid-point of the next competitive MLR season AFTER the player is eligible to play in the MLR (through graduation/expiry of college eligibility/relinquishment of college eligibility). Drafting teams may sign those players or trade player rights with other MLR teams.[3]

A player that isn't signed by a team within the above-mentioned rights period, may enter the subsequent year's draft as long as they are eligible. If they lose their Collegiate Draft eligibility, they may enter the MLR if a team desires their services.  

Order of Selections

The order of selection was based on the reverse order of the regular season record during the 2021 MLR season. The Draft order is subject to change as teams make trades. Unlike the inaugural draft, this year's draft consisted of three rounds.

The draft order was determined by the reverse order of the league standings but is subject to change as teams make trades. The draft began with the expansion Dallas Jackals making the first pick, followed by the Houston SaberCats, Seattle Seawolves, Toronto Arrows, San Diego Legion, Rugby United New York (via Old Glory DC), Austin Gilgronis, New England Free Jacks, New Orleans Gold, Rugby United New York, Utah Warriors, Rugby ATL, and the 2021 MLR champion Los Angeles Giltinis.

Hosts

MLR All-Access' Stacy Paetz hosted this year's draft along with returning MLR analyst Dan Power and the first round pick of the Inaugural draft Conner Mooneyham were behind the desk. Also MLR sideline reporter Dani Wexelman returned to interview draftees.

Player selections

Rd Pick # MLR team Player Pos. College Division Conference Notes
11Dallas JackalsEric NaposkiFullbackUCLAD1-ACalifornia/PAC2018 & 2019 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team/2nd team)
12Houston SaberCatsEmmanuel AlbertBlindside FlankerLindenwoodD1-AMid-South2021 Rudy Scholz Award Winner
13Seattle SeawolvesTavite LopetiCenterSaint Mary'sD1-ACalifornia/PAC2019 Collegiate All-American (1st team)
14Toronto ArrowsLogan Martin-FeekFly-HalfUVic2019 Canadian University All-Star
15San Diego LegionJonah DietenbergerLockLindenwoodD1-AMid-South
16Rugby United New York
(trade with Old Glory DC)
Chase Schor-HaskinBack RowLifeD1-AMid-South2021 CRC 7s All-Star
17Austin GilgronisCaleb StrumWingAlabamaSCRCWestern Division
18New England Free JacksCael HodgsonCenter/WingLindenwoodD1-AMid-South
19Utah WarriorsJoey BackeHookerWestern MichiganD1-AAMAC2021 CRC 7s All-Star
110Dallas JackalsDeCor DavisPropQueens of CharlotteD-2SAC
111New Orleans GoldGeorge SharpeHookerArkansas StateD1-AMid-South
112Rugby ATLIsaac BalesHookerLouisvilleD-2
113LA GiltinisSam KlimkowskiLoosehead PropNotre Dame CollegeD1-AEast/Big 10
214Dallas JackalsAaron GrayWingKutztownD1-AEast/Big 102019 Collegiate All-American (3rd team)
2019 Collegiate All-American 7s (2nd team)
215Houston SaberCatsTinashe MuchenaNumber 8LindenwoodD1-AMid-South2021 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
216Seattle SeawolvesDarell WilliamsWingLifeD1-AMid-South
217Toronto ArrowsBryce WordenTighthead PropUBC2019 Canadian University All-Star
218San Diego LegionThomas CapriottiHookerPenn StateD1-ALiberty
219Old Glory DCPalema RobertsCenterLifeD1-AMid-South
220Austin GilgronisAsa CarterBlindside FlankerArkansas StateD1-AMid-South2017 High School All-American
221New England Free JacksAnthony AdamcheckPropPenn StateD1-ALiberty
222New Orleans GoldChristan AlvarezScrumhalfPenn StateD1-ALiberty
223Dallas JackalsAlejandro TorresFly-HalfThomas More2019 Sudaméria XV
224Utah WarriorsConnor BurnsFullbackLindenwoodD1-AMid-South2020 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
225Rugby ATLColeson WarnerFly-HalfLindenwoodD1-AMid-South2019 Collegiate All-American 7s (2nd team)
226LA GiltinisJames O'NeillOpenside FlankerUVic2017, 2018, 2019 Canadian University All-Star
327Dallas JackalsCalvin GentryCenterMemphis2019 Collegiate All-American (2nd team)
328Houston SaberCatsDillon ShotwellHookerSam Houston State
329Seattle SeawolvesEthan ScottScrumhalfMemphis
330New Orleans GoldCarmen ConsolinoFly-HalfAmerican InternationalD1-ALiberty
331San Diego LegionDominick IacovinoFullbackGrand Canyon
332Old Glory DCLabi Koi-LarbiOutside CenterPenn StateD1-ALiberty
333Austin GilgronisBrandon AsbelHookerDavenport PanthersMRFUIowa Rugby Union
334New England Free JacksZach BastresOutside CenterNorthern Colorado
335Toronto ArrowsSam MaceHookerOttawaRSEQ
336Rugby United New YorkPeter ReyesLoosehead PropKutztownD1-AEast/Big 10
337Utah WarriorsEmerson PriorPropTrentOUA
338Rugby ATLSean AkinsOpenside FlankerWestern MichiganD1-AAMAC
339LA GiltinisGerard LoweFlankerKutztownD1-AEast/Big 102019 Collegiate All-American (3rd team)

References

  1. "MLR Draft Picks 2021".
  2. "2021 MLR Collegiate Draft Summary". 20 August 2021.
  3. "Collegiate Draft". Major League Rugby. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
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