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| 2021 MLR Draft | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Date(s) | August 19, 2021 |
| Overview | |
| 39 total selections in 3 rounds | |
| League | Major League Rugby |
| First selection | Eric 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]
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.
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.
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.
| Rd | Pick # | MLR team | Player | Pos. | College | Division | Conference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Dallas Jackals | Eric Naposki | Fullback | UCLA | D1-A | California/PAC | 2018 & 2019 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team/2nd team) |
| 1 | 2 | Houston SaberCats | Emmanuel Albert | Blindside Flanker | Lindenwood | D1-A | Mid-South | 2021 Rudy Scholz Award Winner |
| 1 | 3 | Seattle Seawolves | Tavite Lopeti | Center | Saint Mary's | D1-A | California/PAC | 2019 Collegiate All-American (1st team) |
| 1 | 4 | Toronto Arrows | Logan Martin-Feek | Fly-Half | UVic | 2019 Canadian University All-Star | ||
| 1 | 5 | San Diego Legion | Jonah Dietenberger | Lock | Lindenwood | D1-A | Mid-South | |
| 1 | 6 | Rugby United New York (trade with Old Glory DC) | Chase Schor-Haskin | Back Row | Life | D1-A | Mid-South | 2021 CRC 7s All-Star |
| 1 | 7 | Austin Gilgronis | Caleb Strum | Wing | Alabama | SCRC | Western Division | |
| 1 | 8 | New England Free Jacks | Cael Hodgson | Center/Wing | Lindenwood | D1-A | Mid-South | |
| 1 | 9 | Utah Warriors | Joey Backe | Hooker | Western Michigan | D1-AA | MAC | 2021 CRC 7s All-Star |
| 1 | 10 | Dallas Jackals | DeCor Davis | Prop | Queens of Charlotte | D-2 | SAC | |
| 1 | 11 | New Orleans Gold | George Sharpe | Hooker | Arkansas State | D1-A | Mid-South | |
| 1 | 12 | Rugby ATL | Isaac Bales | Hooker | Louisville | D-2 | ||
| 1 | 13 | LA Giltinis | Sam Klimkowski | Loosehead Prop | Notre Dame College | D1-A | East/Big 10 | |
| 2 | 14 | Dallas Jackals | Aaron Gray | Wing | Kutztown | D1-A | East/Big 10 | 2019 Collegiate All-American (3rd team) 2019 Collegiate All-American 7s (2nd team) |
| 2 | 15 | Houston SaberCats | Tinashe Muchena | Number 8 | Lindenwood | D1-A | Mid-South | 2021 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee |
| 2 | 16 | Seattle Seawolves | Darell Williams | Wing | Life | D1-A | Mid-South | |
| 2 | 17 | Toronto Arrows | Bryce Worden | Tighthead Prop | UBC | 2019 Canadian University All-Star | ||
| 2 | 18 | San Diego Legion | Thomas Capriotti | Hooker | Penn State | D1-A | Liberty | |
| 2 | 19 | Old Glory DC | Palema Roberts | Center | Life | D1-A | Mid-South | |
| 2 | 20 | Austin Gilgronis | Asa Carter | Blindside Flanker | Arkansas State | D1-A | Mid-South | 2017 High School All-American |
| 2 | 21 | New England Free Jacks | Anthony Adamcheck | Prop | Penn State | D1-A | Liberty | |
| 2 | 22 | New Orleans Gold | Christan Alvarez | Scrumhalf | Penn State | D1-A | Liberty | |
| 2 | 23 | Dallas Jackals | Alejandro Torres | Fly-Half | Thomas More | 2019 Sudaméria XV | ||
| 2 | 24 | Utah Warriors | Connor Burns | Fullback | Lindenwood | D1-A | Mid-South | 2020 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee |
| 2 | 25 | Rugby ATL | Coleson Warner | Fly-Half | Lindenwood | D1-A | Mid-South | 2019 Collegiate All-American 7s (2nd team) |
| 2 | 26 | LA Giltinis | James O'Neill | Openside Flanker | UVic | 2017, 2018, 2019 Canadian University All-Star | ||
| 3 | 27 | Dallas Jackals | Calvin Gentry | Center | Memphis | 2019 Collegiate All-American (2nd team) | ||
| 3 | 28 | Houston SaberCats | Dillon Shotwell | Hooker | Sam Houston State | |||
| 3 | 29 | Seattle Seawolves | Ethan Scott | Scrumhalf | Memphis | |||
| 3 | 30 | New Orleans Gold | Carmen Consolino | Fly-Half | American International | D1-A | Liberty | |
| 3 | 31 | San Diego Legion | Dominick Iacovino | Fullback | Grand Canyon | |||
| 3 | 32 | Old Glory DC | Labi Koi-Larbi | Outside Center | Penn State | D1-A | Liberty | |
| 3 | 33 | Austin Gilgronis | Brandon Asbel | Hooker | Davenport Panthers | MRFU | Iowa Rugby Union | |
| 3 | 34 | New England Free Jacks | Zach Bastres | Outside Center | Northern Colorado | |||
| 3 | 35 | Toronto Arrows | Sam Mace | Hooker | Ottawa | RSEQ | ||
| 3 | 36 | Rugby United New York | Peter Reyes | Loosehead Prop | Kutztown | D1-A | East/Big 10 | |
| 3 | 37 | Utah Warriors | Emerson Prior | Prop | Trent | OUA | ||
| 3 | 38 | Rugby ATL | Sean Akins | Openside Flanker | Western Michigan | D1-AA | MAC | |
| 3 | 39 | LA Giltinis | Gerard Lowe | Flanker | Kutztown | D1-A | East/Big 10 | 2019 Collegiate All-American (3rd team) |
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