The 2020 MLR Collegiate Draft[1][2][3][4] was the first of its kind for rugby union in North America.[5] On April 8, 2020, the MLR announced that on June 13, 2020, they will host their first collegiate MLR Draft.[6] All of the participating teams for the 2021 season, except the Toronto Arrows, participated in the draft.[7]
| 2020 MLR Draft | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Date(s) | June 12, 2020 |
| Overview | |
| 24 total selections in 2 rounds | |
| League | Major League Rugby |
| First selection | Conner Mooneyham, Wing/Center, Dallas Jackals |
| Most selections (4) | Dallas Jackals and Utah Warriors |
| Fewest selections (2) | ATL, Austin, LA, New England, New Orleans, DC, San Diego, Seattle |
Format
editMajor League Rugby first ever Collegiate Draft was held on June 13, 2020.
The Draft consisted of four rounds and the order of selection was determined by the inverse order of standings from the abbreviated 2020 Season from COVID-19, with expansion teams placed at the head of it. Once selected, teams used a "draft-and-follow" approach and had until one MLR season after the player's collegiate eligibility ended, to reach an agreement with the athlete.
Players must have played U.S. collegiate rugby in the one year preceding the draft (between June 13, 2019 to June 12, 2020); AND Must have completed three years of college OR be at least 21 years of age. These criteria allow for athletes who have completed their Junior year to declare for the Draft while continuing to play in Collegiate competition as long as they remain eligible.
Hosts
editMLR analyst Dan Power and MLR reporter Dani Wexelman were hosts of the Draft, and were joined by Stacy Paetz, sideline reporter for MLR games and host of MLR All-Access.
Player selections
edit| Rd | Pick # | MLR team | Player | Pos. | College | Division | Conference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Dallas Jackals | Conner Mooneyham | Wing/Center | Life | D1-A | Mid-South | 2019 Collegiate All-American (2nd team) |
| 1 | 2 | New Orleans Gold | Brian Nault | Prop | Central Washington | D1-A | Independent | from LA |
| 1 | 3 | Utah Warriors | Derek Ellingson | Center/Wing | Saint Mary's | D1-A | California | from Houston |
| 1 | 4 | Austin Gilgronis | Lui Sitama | Center/Utility Back | American International | D1-A | Liberty | |
| 1 | 5 | Seattle Seawolves | Aaron Matthews | Center | Saint Mary's | D1-A | California | 2018 Collegiate All-American (2nd team) 2019 Collegiate All-American (2nd team) 2019 Rudy Scholz Award Finalist 2020 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee |
| 1 | 6 | New England Free Jacks | Justin Johnson | Openside Flanker | Life | D1-A | Mid-South | 2019 Collegiate All-American (2nd team) |
| 1 | 7 | Utah Warriors | John Powers | Wing/Fullback | Iona | D1-A | Liberty | |
| 1 | 8 | Rugby ATL | Michael Matarazzo | Number 8/Lock | Notre Dame | D1-A | Independent | 2018 Collegiate All-American (3rd team) |
| 1 | 9 | Dallas Jackals | Tommy Clark | Flanker/Lock | American International | D1-A | Liberty | from New York 2018 Collegiate All-American (2nd team) 2019 Collegiate All-American (3rd team) 2020 Rudy Scholz Award Finalist |
| 1 | 10 | New Orleans Gold | Andrew Guerra | Flanker | Notre Dame College | D1-A | Rugby East | |
| 1 | 11 | Old Glory DC | Casey Renaud | Lock | Kutztown | D1-A | Rugby East | |
| 1 | 12 | San Diego Legion | Patrick Madden | Fly-Half/Center | Cal Poly | D1-A | California | 2020 Rudy Scholz Award Finalist |
| 2 | 13 | Dallas Jackals | Levi Van Lanen | Center | Wisconsin–Whitewater | D2 | 2016 D2 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team) 2017 D2 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team) 2018 D2 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team) 2019 D2 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team) | |
| 2 | 14 | LA Giltinis | Watson Filikitonga | Center | Iona | D1-A | Liberty | |
| 2 | 15 | Utah Warriors | Danny Giannascoli | Fly-Half/Fullback | Loyola Maryland | NSCRO | Mid-Atlantic | from Houston 2019 NSCRO All-American 2020 NSCRO All-American |
| 2 | 16 | Austin Gilgronis | Mason Koch | Hooker | Dartmouth | D1-AA | Ivy League | |
| 2 | 17 | Seattle Seawolves | Nicholas Taylor | Center/Fly-Half | Lindenwood | D1-A | Mid-South | |
| 2 | 18 | New England Free Jacks | Spencer Krueger | Prop | Ohio State | D1-A | Big 10 | 2018 Collegiate All-American (3rd team) |
| 2 | 19 | Utah Warriors | Elijiah Hayes | Prop | Iowa Central | |||
| 2 | 20 | Rugby ATL | John Scotti | Wing/Center | Arkansas State | D1-A | Mid-South | |
| 2 | 21 | Dallas Jackals | Bronson Teles | Number 8/Lock | Arizona | D1-A | PAC | from New York 2019 Collegiate All-American (2nd team) 2020 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee |
| 2 | 22 | LA Giltinis | Stephan McLeish | Hooker/Flanker | Lindenwood | D1-A | Mid-South | 2020 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee |
| 2 | 23 | Old Glory DC | Matthew Gordan | Lock/Number 8 | Mary Washington | D1-A | Rugby East | 2019 Collegiate All-American (1st team) |
| 2 | 24 | San Diego Legion | Cole Zarcone | Wing | Central Washington | D1-A | Independent | 2019 Collegiate All-American 7s (1st team) 2020 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee |
References
edit- ^ "Questions And Concerns About MLR Draft | Goff Rugby Report".
- ^ "2020 MLR Collegiate Draft Summary - Americas Rugby News".
- ^ "MLR Draft Picks 2020 - Major League Rugby".
- ^ "MLR Draft 2020: What you need to know - Utah Warriors Rugby".
- ^ "2020 Major League Rugby Draft Application and Useful Athlete Info | USA Rugby".
- ^ "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY TO HOLD FIRST EVER COLLEGIATE DRAFT".
- ^ "CLUB STATEMENT ON ARROWS INVOLVEMENT IN THE 2020 MLR COLLEGIATE DRAFT".
- ^ "MLR DRAFT PICKS 2020".