photo credit: Dennis D. Hawk / Doctor Hawk Photo / Life Rugby

2023 MLR Collegiate Draft Summary

The fourth edition of the Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft is now complete. A total of 39 players were selected across three rounds with 11 teams from the 2023 season participating. Old Glory had already traded their three allotted selections. Expansion side Miami also took part.

For a third consecutive year Lindenwood had the most players selected with four, with three each chose from BYU, Central Washington, Life, and St. Bonaventure. Almost a third of players selected – 12 of them – were back row forwards, while only four were props.

Three Canadians were picked, down from eight in 2022, though the two Arrows selections should qualify on residency over the next year. Monty Weatherall, James Rivers, Albert O’Shannessey, Oli Griffiths, and Nathan Beil would be considered international players in 2024. Weatherall and Rivers should achieve domestic status ahead of the 2025 MLR season.

 

 

ROUND 1

 

 

#1


Rick Rose
Miami Sharks

School St. Bonaventure University
Home Town Medina, Ohio
Position Lock
Age 22
Height 6’7″ (2.01m)
Weight 250lbs (113kg)

2023 NCR Division 1 All-American

Highlight Video

 

 

#2


Max Schumacher
Houston SaberCats

School University of California, Berkeley
Home Town Carmichael, California
Position Fullback / Flyhalf
Age 22
Height 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight 195lbs (89kg)

2022 D1A Collegiate All-American (2nd team)
2023 Rudy Scholz Award Finalist

Highlight Video

 

 

#3


Marques Fuala’au
Dallas Jackals

School Central Washington University
Home Town Kent, Washington
Position Back Row
Age 23
Height 6’2″ (1.87m)
Weight 225lbs (102kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#4


Noah Brown
Chicago Hounds

School Indiana University
Home Town Mishawaka, Indiana
Position Center
Age 22
Height 6’1″ (1.86m)
Weight 200lbs (91kg)

2019 USA World Schools 7s
2022 USA u23 7s
2022 USA Eagles 7s
2023 USA Falcons 7s

 

 

#5


Matt Anticev
Los Angeles

School Dartmouth College
Home Town Staten Island, New York
Position Utility Back
Age 24
Height 6′ (1.83m)
Weight 190lbs (86kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#6


Julian Roberts
NOLA Gold

School Life University
Home Town Kapolei, Hawai’i
Position Flyhalf / Center
Age 23
Height 5’9″ (1.74m)
Weight 195lbs (88kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#7


Cian Darling
NOLA Gold

School Lindenwood University
Home Town Dublin, Ireland
Position Flanker
Age 23
Height 6’3″ (1.91m)
Weight 225lbs (102kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#8


Nick Lapponese
New York Ironworkers

School Fairfield University
Home Town Cortland, New York
Position Back Row
Age 23
Height 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight 230lbs (105kg)

2023 NCR Division 1 All-American

Highlight Video

 

 

#9


Orrin Bizer
Houston SaberCats

School Life University
Home Town Woodlands, Texas
Position Back Row
Age 22
Height 6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight 215lbs (98kg)

2021 USA u23 7s
2023 Rudy Scholz Award Finalist

 

 

#10


James Rivers
San Diego Legion

School University of Arizona
Home Town Buckinghamshire, England
Position Lock
Age 23
Height 6’6″ (1.98m)
Weight 255lbs (115kg)

2018 Hong Kong u20

 

 

#11


Gabe Mahu’inga
NOLA Gold

School Brigham Young University
Home Town Herriman, Utah
Position Hooker
Age 23
Height 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight 235lbs (107kg)

2017 USA High School All-American
2022
D1A Collegiate All-American (2nd team)
2022 USA u23

 

 

#12


Tyren Al-Jiboori
San Diego Legion

School Lindenwood University
Home Town Tulsa, Oklahoma
Position Wing
Age 23
Height 6′ (1.84m)
Weight 210lbs (96kg)

2018 USA Youth Olympics 7s
2022 D1A Collegiate All-American (1st team)
2022 USA u23

 

 

#13


Gabe Casey
New England Free Jacks

School University of Victoria
Home Town Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Position Center
Age 24
Height 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight 205lbs (93kg)

2018 Canada u20
2019 Canada u20
2022 Canada ‘A’
2023 Canada (test debut vs Tonga)

Highlight Video

 

 

ROUND 2

 

 

#14


Charlie Overton
Miami Sharks

School Life University
Home Town Westport, Connecticut
Position Lock
Age 23
Height 6’6″ (1.98m)
Weight 240lbs (108kg)

2017 USA High School All-American
2022 D1A Collegiate All-American (2nd team)

 

 

#15


Louis Millet
Toronto Arrows

School Bishop’s University
Home Town Toulouse, France
Position Flanker
Age 22
Height 6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight 210lbs (95kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#16


Juan Pen
Chicago Hounds

School St. Bonaventure University
Home Town Cleveland, Ohio
Position Prop
Age 23
Height 6’3″ (1.91m)
Weight 270lbs (123kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#17


Daelan Denenberg
Chicago Hounds

School Santa Clara University
Home Town Singapore
Position Wing
Age 24
Height 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight 195lbs (88kg)

2022 D1A Collegiate All-American (1st team)
2022 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
2022 USA u23

Highlight Video

 

 

#18


Jackson Zabierek
Los Angeles

School University of California, Santa Clara
Home Town San Rafael, California
Position Hooker
Age 22
Height 5’9″ (1.75m)
Weight 200lbs (91kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#19


Josh Halladay
Utah Warriors

School Trinity Western University
Home Town White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
Position Lock
Age 23
Height 6’6″ (1.98m)
Weight 255lbs (117kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#20


Michael Biagi
Utah Warriors

School Brigham Young University
Home Town Burlingame, California
Position Back Row
Age 24
Height 6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight 240lbs (109kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#21


Albert O’Shannessey
New York Ironworkers

School Central Washington University
Home Town Christchurch, New Zealand
Position Flanker
Age 23
Height 6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight 215lbs (98kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#22


Abe Turpen
Utah Warriors

School University of Arizona
Home Town Boise, Idaho
Position Openside Flanker
Age 21
Height 6′ (1.83m)
Weight 225lbs (102kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#23


Junior Gafa
New England Free Jacks

School Brown University
Home Town Apia, Samoa
Position Center
Age 22
Height 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight 215lbs (98kg)

2018 USA High School All-American

 

 

#24


Scott Bowers
Seattle Seawolves

School Trinity Western University
Home Town Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Position Hooker
Age 24
Height 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight 245lbs (111kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#25


Michael Ramos
San Diego Legion

School University of San Diego
Home Town Eastvale, California
Position Eightman
Age 23
Height 6’3″ (1.91m)
Weight 230lbs (104kg)

2022 ACR All-American

 

 

#26


Will Chevalier
New England Free Jacks

School Indiana University
Home Town Naperville, Illinois
Position Scrumhalf
Age 22
Height 5’9″ (1.74m)
Weight 175lbs (80kg)

2022 USA Eagles 7s
2023 NCR Division 1 All-American

 

 

ROUND 3

 

 

#27


Setu Vole
Miami Sharks

School Lindenwood University
Home Town Aūa, American Samoa
Position Prop
Age 22
Height 6′ (1.84m)
Weight 270lbs (122kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#28


Monty Weatherall
Toronto Arrows

School McGill University
Home Town Amersham, England
Position Flyhalf
Age 22
Height 6′ (1.83m)
Weight 185lbs (84kg)

2022 Canadian University Championship All-Star (1st team)

 

 

#29


Connor Olvera
Dallas Jackals

School Brigham Young University
Home Town Oswego, Illinois
Position Fullback
Age 25
Height 6′ (1.83m)
Weight 200lbs (92kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#30


Clayton Means
Chicago Hounds

School Lindenwood University
Home Town Tulsa, Oklahoma
Position Center
Age 22
Height 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight 205lbs (93kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#31


Oli Griffiths
Los Angeles

School University of California, Los Angeles
Home Town Sydney, Australia
Position Fullback
Age 23
Height 5’11” (1.80m)
Weight 185lbs (85kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#32


Ronnie McElligott
Dallas Jackals

School Saint Mary’s College
Home Town San Francisco, California
Position Flanker
Age 23
Height 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight 220lbs (100kg)

2022 D1A Collegiate All-American (3rd team)

Highlight Video

 

 

#33


Isaia Kruse
Utah Warriors

School Fresno State University
Home Town Fresno, California
Position Wing
Age 23
Height 5’9″ (1.74m)
Weight 195lbs (88kg)

2018 USA Youth Olympics 7s
2023 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee

 

 

#34


Gjergji Bacuku
New York Ironworkers

School Hofstra University
Home Town Durrës, Albania
Position Prop
Age 22
Height 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight 275lbs (125kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#35


Anton Viera
Houston SaberCats

School Santa Clara University
Home Town Redwood City, California
Position Back Row
Age 23
Height 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight 230lbs (105kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#36


Noah Wright
Dallas Jackals

School Central Washington University
Home Town Renton, Washington
Position Scrumhalf / Wing
Age 22
Height 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight 205lbs (94kg)

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

Highlight Video

 

 

#37


Nathan Beil
Los Angeles

School University of California, Los Angeles
Home Town Brisbane, Australia
Position Back Row
Age 23
Height 6′ (1.83m)
Weight 210lbs (96kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#38


Joe Hawthorne
San Diego Legion

School St. Bonaventure University
Home Town Hudson, Ohio
Position Loosehead Prop / Hooker
Age 24
Height 5’9″ (1.76m)
Weight 245lbs (112kg)

2023 NCR Division 1 All-American

Highlight Video

 

 

#39


Nick Hartley
Los Angeles

School Missouri University of S&T
Home Town Hamilton, Missouri
Position Utility Back
Age 24
Height 5’9″ (1.75m)
Weight 175lbs (80kg)

Highlight Video

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