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2021 MLR Draft

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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
2022 →

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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

References

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