2021 MLR Draft
General information
Date(s)	August 19, 2021
Overview
39 total selections in 3 rounds
League	Major League Rugby
First selection	Eric Naposki, Fullback, Dallas Jackals
Most selections (5)	Dallas Jackals
Fewest selections (2)	Rugby United New York

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

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.  

Player selections

References