2022 MLR Collegiate Draft Summary

The third edition of the Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft is now complete. A total of 39 players were selected across three rounds with all 11 teams from the 2022 season participating. LA had already traded their three allotted selections, while Austin’s 33rd overall pick was traded to Utah for salary cap considerations. Another last minute trade saw ATL acquiring the 4th overall selection from Utah in exchange for the 9th overall pick and salary cap considerations.

As in 2021, Lindenwood University had the most players selected with five, while all three Kutztown University picks went in the first round. The most sought-after position was prop with 11 players picked while only two hookers were selected.

Eight Canadians were picked, up from five in 2021, with four going in the first round including three of the top five. Other nations represented include Italy, England, Argentina, Zimbabwe, and Ireland. 24 players have achieved national age-grade or development recognition.

 

 

ROUND 1

 

 

#1


Sam Golla
Dallas Jackals

School: University of California, Berkeley
Home Town: Arlington, Texas
Position: Lock / Blindside Flanker
Age: 23
Height: 6’4″ (1.93m)
Weight: 245lbs (112kg)

2019 USA u20
2022 D1A Collegiate All-American (1st team)
2022 Rudy Scholz Award Finalist

Highlight Video

 

 

#2


Sebastiano Villani
NOLA Gold

School: St. Bonaventure University
Home Town: Parma, Italy
Position: Scrumhalf
Age: 22
Height: 5’9″ (1.75m)
Weight: 190lbs (86kg)

2018 High School All-American

Highlight Video

 

 

#3


Cali Martinez
Old Glory DC

School: University of British Columbia
Home Town: White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
Position: Prop
Age: 25
Height: 5’9″ (1.74m)
Weight: 240lbs (108kg)

2011 Canada u17
2015 Canada u20
2016 Canada u20

Highlight Video

 

 

#4


Seth Purdey
Rugby ATL

School: University of California, Berkeley
Home Town: Mill Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Position: Center
Age: 23
Height: 6′ (1.84m)
Weight: 200lbs (92kg)

2016 Canada u18
2017 Canada u19
2018 Canada u20

 

 

#5


Owain Ruttan
Toronto Arrows

School: University of British Columbia
Home Town: Cobourg, Ontario, Canada
Position: Flanker
Age: 24
Height: 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight: 230lbs (104kg)

2017 Canada u19
2018 Canada u20

 

 

#6


Chase Jones
NOLA Gold

School: Saint Mary’s College
Home Town: Davis, California
Position: Lock / Blindside Flanker
Age: 23
Height: 6’4″ (1.94m)
Weight: 230lbs (105kg)

2017 High School All-American
2019 USA u20
2022 D1A Collegiate All-American (1st team)

Highlight Video

 

 

#7


Trent Rogers
NOLA Gold

School: Kutztown University
Home Town: Cincinnati, Ohio
Position: Tighthead Prop
Age: 22
Height: 6′ (1.83m)
Weight: 285lbs (130kg)

2017 High School All-American
2021 USA u23

Highlight Video

 

 

#8


Ethan Hager
Dallas Jackals

School: University of Victoria
Home Town: Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Position: Wing
Age: 23
Height: 6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight: 200lbs (91kg)

2017 Canada Maple Leafs 7s
2018 Canada Maple Leafs 7s
2019 Canada FISU 7s
2019 Canadian University All-Star

Highlight Video

 

 

#9


Tai Kauwe
Utah Warriors

School: Kutztown University
Home Town: Orem, Utah
Position: Scrumhalf
Age: 23
Height: 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight: 195lbs (89kg)

2017 North American Lions 7s
2021 NCR D1 All-American

Highlight Video

 

 

#10


Matt Gelhaus
Rugby ATL

School: Kutztown University
Home Town: Cincinnati, Ohio
Position: Lock
Age: 22
Height: 6’5″ (1.96m)
Weight: 240lbs (108kg)

2020 USA u20
2021 USA u23
2022 USA u23

 

 

#11


Gabe Kettering
Utah Warriors

School: Lindenwood University
Home Town: O’Fallon, Missouri
Position: Loosehead Prop
Age: 23
Height: 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight: 260lbs (118kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#12


Shane Barry
Seattle Seawolves

School: University of California, Los Angeles
Home Town: London, England
Position: Flyhalf
Age: 22
Height: 5’11” (1.81m)
Weight: 180lbs (82kg)

2021 USA Selects

Highlight Video

 

 

#13


Doyle Hedgepeth
Rugby New York

School: Queens University of Charlotte
Home Town: Greenville, South Carolina
Position: Loosehead Prop
Age: 23
Height: 6′ (1.83m)
Weight: 245lbs (111kg)

2021 USA u23
2021 NCR D1 All-American
2022 USA u23

Highlight Video

 

 

ROUND 2

 

 

#14


Kyle Fulton
Dallas Jackals

School: University of Arizona
Home Town: Conte Madera, California
Position: Wing
Age: 22
Height: 5’9″ (1.75m)
Weight: 195lbs (89kg)

2021 USA u23

Highlight Video

 

 

#15


Collin Grosse
Old Glory DC

School: Army West Point
Home Town: Spokane, Washington
Position: Lock / Blindside Flanker
Age: 24
Height: 6’3″ (1.91m)
Weight: 245lbs (111kg)

2021 USA u23
2022 USA u23
2022 D1A Collegiate All-American (3rd team)

Highlight Video

 

 

#16


Sam Wegert
Seattle Seawolves

School: Trinity Western University
Home Town: Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Position: Center
Age: 22
Height: 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight: 220lbs (100kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#17


Tomás Casaras
New England Free Jacks

School: Thomas More University
Home Town: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Position: Number Eight
Age: 23
Height: 6’4″ (1.93m)
Weight: 230lbs (105kg)

2021 NCR D2 All-American

 

 

#18


Greg Janowick
Utah Warriors

School: University of Tennessee
Home Town: Barrington, Illinois
Position: Lock
Age: 23
Height: 6’5″ (1.96m)
Weight: 265lbs (120kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#19


Jack Manzo
Old Glory DC

School: University of California, Berkeley
Home Town: Queens, New York
Position: Hooker
Age: 23
Height: 5’8″ (1.72m)
Weight: 205lbs (94kg)

2015 EIRA u16
2017 High School All-American
2019 USA u20
2019 Collegiate All-American (1st team)
2022 USA u23
2022 D1A Collegiate All-American (1st team)

 

 

#20


Matías Caramuti
Dallas Jackals

School: Thomas More University
Home Town: Rio Cuarto, Argentina
Position: Flyhalf
Age: 23
Height: 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight: 190lbs (87kg)

2021 NCR D2 All-American

Highlight Video

 

 

#21


Oliver Kane
San Diego Legion

School: University of San Diego
Home Town: Nashville, Tennessee
Position: Tighthead Prop
Age: 25
Height: 6’4″ (1.93m)
Weight: 270lbs (123kg)

 

 

#22


Jack Shaw
Rugby ATL

School: Bishop’s University
Home Town: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Position: Center / Wing
Age: 22
Height: 6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight: 205lbs (93kg)

2020 Canada u20

Highlight Video

 

 

#23


Nolan Buckley
Dallas Jackals

School: University of Massachusetts Lowell
Home Town: North Attleboro, Massachusetts
Position: Back Row
Age: 22
Height: 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight: 205lbs (93kg)

2021 NCR D2 All-American

Highlight Video

 

 

#24


Mazvita Nyamarebvu
Dallas Jackals

School: Arkansas State University
Home Town: Mashonaland, Zimbabwe
Position: Center
Age: 22
Height: 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight: 210lbs (95kg)

2017 Zimbabwe u18
2018 Zimbabwe u20

Highlight Video

 

 

#25


Neal Moylett
Seattle Seawolves

School: Lindenwood University
Home Town: Ballina, Ireland
Position: Back Row
Age: 22
Height: 6’2″ (1.89m)
Weight: 225lbs (102kg)

2018 Ireland u19

Highlight Video

 

 

#26


Alex Balladares
Old Glory DC

School: Queens University of Charlotte
Home Town: Silver Spring, Maryland
Position: Loosehead Prop
Age: 22
Height: 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight: 235lbs (107kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

ROUND 3

 

 

#27


Christian Olney
NOLA Gold

School: Ohio State University
Home Town: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Position: Wing / Fullback
Age: 23
Height: 6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight: 200lbs (90kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#28


Mike Weir
Old Glory DC

School: Dartmouth University
Home Town: Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
Position: Flyhalf
Age: 22
Height: 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight: 175lbs (80kg)

2017 High School All-American
2019 USA u20
2022 USA u23

Highlight Video

 

 

#29


Bill Whiteside
Rugby New York

School: Lindenwood University
Home Town: Piedmont, California
Position: Lock
Age: 22
Height: 6’5″ (1.96m)
Weight: 235lbs (107kg)

2021 USA u23

 

 

#30


Sam Buckley
Utah Warriors

School: Lindenwood University
Home Town: Northampton, England
Position: Tighthead Prop
Age: 23
Height: 6’1″ (1.86m)
Weight: 260lbs (118kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#31


Gabe Casey
Toronto Arrows

School: University of Victoria
Home Town: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Position: Utility Back
Age: 23
Height: 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight: 205lbs (93kg)

2017 Canada u18
2018 Canada u20
2019 Canada u20
2022 Canada West Selects

Highlight Video

 

 

#32


Denver Fatt
Toronto Arrows

School: University of Victoria
Home Town: Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Position: Tighthead Prop
Age: 21
Height: 6’2″ (1.89m)
Weight: 260lbs (118kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#33


John DuPree
Utah Warriors

School: Central Washington University
Home Town: Lincoln, California
Position: Openside Flanker
Age: 22
Height: 6′ (1.82m)
Weight: 215lbs (98kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#34


KoiKoi Nelligan
San Diego Legion

School: Army West Point
Home Town: Washington, DC
Position: Hooker
Age: 22
Height: 5’11” (1.81m)
Weight: 220lbs (100kg)

2022 USA u23
2022 D1A Collegiate All-American (1st team)

Highlight Video

 

 

#35


Evan Conlon
Rugby ATL

School: Lindenwood University
Home Town: Woodlands, Texas
Position: Scrumhalf
Age: 23
Height: 5’9″ (1.75m)
Weight: 185lbs (84kg)

2021 USA u23

Highlight Video

 

 

#36


Jason Tidwell
Dallas Jackals

School: Texas A&M University
Home Town: Forth Worth, Texas
Position: Utility Back
Age: 22
Height: 5’9″ (1.76m)
Weight: 180lbs (82kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#37


Ivan Pula
New England Free Jacks

School: Central Washington University
Home Town: Yelm, Washington
Position: Prop
Age: 24
Height: 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight: 255lbs (116kg)

2017 High School All-American
2021 USA Selects

Highlight Video

 

 

#38


James Kuahiwinui
Seattle Seawolves

School: Iowa Central Community College
Home Town: Spanaway, Washington
Position: Tighthead Prop
Age: 21
Height: 6′ (1.83m)
Weight: 260lbs (118kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#39


Brandon Karnes
Houston SaberCats

School: Iowa State University
Home Town: Austin, Texas
Position: Prop
Age: 21
Height: 5’11” (1.81m)
Weight: 270lbs (123kg)

2021 USA u20

Highlight Video