The sixth edition of Major League Rugby’s College Draft is set to air on Thursday. It comes in the midst of significant turmoil, with three teams dropping out of the competition since the Championship Final not quite two months ago. Uncertainty remains swirling above at least one other team, and the league has yet to confirm who is participating on the draft or even it’s format.
FORMAT
EDIT: MLR has now confirmed the official draft order. Unusually, there are 9 selections in the 1st and 3rd rounds, but only 8 in the second. The order is as follows:
The total of 26 selections is the lowest since the inaugural draft in 2020 when there were just two rounds of 12. Last year’s edition had 36 players selected in all, while the 2021, 2022, and 2023 drafts saw 39 players picked each time.
PAST SUCCESS
A total of 176 players have been selected to date, with Canadian international Gabe Casey holding the distinction of being the only person to be picked twice. Casey is one of 11 who have gone on to win full test honors for Canada or the USA, though two of them have since dropped out of the professional game due to injury. Another, Rick Rose, is currently training with the senior USA squad.
After something of a shaky start, the standard of candidates has improved over the past two years. There were 16 players from the 2023 class attached to MLR sides this past year, and 26 of the 2024 class though not all saw game time. This year’s list of declared athletes include several who have the potential of making an impact in MLR, and under World Rugby’s revised five-year registry qualification most of the overseas names will be Eagles-eligible either immediately after the 2026 season or in short order.
THE PROSPECTS
FRONT ROW
Quality American front rowers have been hard to find, but there are some worth looking at this year. Life’s Elias Garza looks to be the top loosehead prop, having recently toured with the USA u23s to South Africa. Sohl Gafa is the younger – but much bigger – brother of Anthem center Junior Gafa. He’s a good athlete but it’s unclear where’s the the Missouri S&T standout’s future might be having also played back row and even center. Similarly IUP’s Cam Taylor is a human highlight reel with ball in hand but there will be questions about his smaller frame and ability in the set piece.
Adam Chadwick impressed as the starting hooker with the u23s and previously spent time in the Bristol Bears age-grade program. Having arrived at Life in 2022, it appears he won’t be Eagles-ready until 2027. New Zealander Campbell Robb from Central Washington was also on that u23 side. Where Chadwick is seen as more of a set piece specialist, Robb offers more mobility in open play.
Another u23 tourist, Hayden McKay, has also starred with the USA u20s and Mount St. Mary’s at flanker. Whether he ends up in the front or back row, he’ll have to add ballast to make an impact in the pro ranks. Canada has two national u20 hookers up for grabs in UVic’s Jordy Auger and Guelph’s David Scollon. The latter was previously part of the Toronto Arrows academy.
At tighthead prop, three names stand out from the rest. Lindenwood’s Connor Devos has been a standout with the USA u20s and u23s, Life’s Leon Best was a u20 select, while Cal Berkeley’s Charlie Walsh was a USA u20 select during the pandemic-ruined 2020 year while playing in New Zealand. All three are strong candidates to have their name called. Arizona’s Dalton Slaughter joined that trio among this year’s CRAA D1A All-American selections.
SECOND ROW
One of the weakest positions traditionally, this year’s group of locks have the same shortcoming – pun intended. Nearly all of them lack genuine international size and project more as blindside flankers or versatile bench options. UCLA’s Will Sherman is definitely the top candidate but at 6’5″ (1.96m) he’s only an average-sized lock in MLR terms.
There are two exceptions. Iowa State’s Alex Geisert is around the same height as Sherman but tips the scales at around 290lbs (132kg). He is a physical defender and has some limited experience at tighthead prop, which could yet be his position moving forward.
The other is the Alabama’s Jake Morrison, at 6’7″ (2.01m) the tallest man in the draft. Morrison doesn’t have the same pedigree as Sherman in terms of representative experience, but he was a multi-sport athlete in high school and at 265lbs (120kg) has the kind of size that can’t be coached.
Saint Mary’s captain Cathal Coakley and Lindenwood’s Neil Milczarek are others who might be considered. Former Zimbabwe u20 skipper Takunda Makiwa, now at Davenport, will likely be seen more as a back row in the mold of Houston’s Emmanuel Albert.
BACK ROW
There is never a shortage of loose forwards available but finding truly dominant athletes hasn’t been so easy. Central Washington’s Tiai Vavao toured with the USA Selects to Uruguay in 2021 as a center, but played in the back row with the u23s in South Africa this year. He’s not the biggest forward around so it’s not clear which spot might be best at the pro level.
At the bigger end of the flanker list is two-time All-American Eduan van Heerden from Lindenwood, who could also fill in at lock in a pinch. South Florida’s Derrick Lei-Sam could be a bit of a bolter, listed at second row but with his ball carrying and 6’3″ (1.91m) frame is surely more of a loose forward at pro level. Grant Meadows has excelled with Canada’s u20 side and has the size and athleticism to play across the back row, and at just 21 years old has a lot of upside.
Two players tick the ‘big man’ box at the back of the scrum. Ieremia Ieremia is originally from New Zealand and initially joined Cal Berkeley as a football player before switching his focus to rugby. He’s already US-eligible and looks a good bet to go early in the draft. The other is King Matu, a 6’4″ (1.93m) ball carrier who is adept at breaching the gainline.
HALFBACKS
American born-and-raised halfbacks are few and far between and this year’s class is again dominated by players developed overseas. Saint Mary’s scrumhalf Hunter Modlin is an exception and could be one of few at his position selected. Canada u20 select Adam Doyle was part of the Arrows academy and was also a national university all-star with Queen’s.
Former Saracens academy flyhalf James Biss from UBC is another Canadian age-grade representative who the scouts would have taken a close look at. He also spent time at the Pacific Pride. One year older, ex-Germany u20 rep Bastian Brunello toured with the USA u23s this past year and is highly rated coming out of Mount St. Mary’s. South Florida’s Keelin Coyle is unusually big for a flyhalf and could be considered more of a center or fullback option.
MIDFIELD
When it comes to punching up the midfield, another likely to get a look out of Mount St. Mary’s is South Africa native Evan Corbett. Canada u20 select and Guelph star Jacob Ince is also on the bigger side and has recent experience playing club rugby in New Zealand. Ince was in the Arrows academy and also spent some time training with their senior group.
On the speedier side, UCLA’s Dayen Joyce looks to be the best of the outside center options. He’s a two-time All-American selection who uses a combination of footwork and surprising upper-body strength to win one-on-one battles. Life’s Philani Simamane, another South African, is a tidy operator but is very small for a center at pro-level.
OUTSIDE BACKS
Unquestionably the top prospect out wide is Central Washington’s Oscar Treacy, the winner of this year’s Rudy Scholz Award as the best player in US college rugby. At a shade under 6’4″ (1.92m) he is dominant in the air and has somewhat deceiving pace with his long strides. Treacy was raised in Australia but is US-eligible. Younger brother Xavier suited up for New Zealand u20s earlier this year.
UBC’s Niko Andrianos, who has represented Canada at rugby league, and Penn State’s All-American Lachlan Treister are similarly big-framed winger options. West Florida’s Malcolm Henke is a rangy athlete who was previously a collegiate lacrosse player. AIC speedster David Eppinger and Azola Martin from Morehouse both played college football before rugby.
At fullback, New England will be hoping their top academy prospect Filimone Manu from AIC is still available when get to pick. It’s not clear how he escaped home-grown classification. UCLA’s Joshua Cox, originally from South Africa, and Australian import Lachlan McDonald from Walsh are others in the mix. Jeron Pantor from Life was a first-round pick by Anthem a year ago but missed the entire MLR season with a knee injury and it would be a surprise to see him selected a second time.
WHO GOES FIRST?
Is there any chance Treacy isn’t the No1 pick from Anthem? There may be some temptation to opt for Chadwick after his strong showing with the u23s. Ieremia might be another who sneaks up the ladder with Anthem thus far struggling to find a truly dominant athlete in the No8 shirt. One of the leading tightheads should also go high up but the clear betting favorite for top spot is Treacy.
HOW TO WATCH
According to MLR, the draft will be broadcast on Thursday, August 21, at 6pm Eastern time (3pm Pacific). American viewers can watch on ESPNU. Previously the broadcast has been available to international viewers on The Rugby Network, but it’s unconfirmed at the time of writing.
