NEWS

Major League Rugby Holds Supplementary Player Draft
Draft included eligible Dallas Jackals players and waivered collegiate athletes.
DALLAS (January 29, 2021) – Today, Major League Rugby (MLR) held a Supplementary Draft to reallocate eligible Dallas Jackals players as a result of the team delaying their inaugural season. The Draft also included six collegiate rugby players who were granted a waiver from participation in the MLR Collegiate Draft 2020, due to COVID specific extenuating circumstances.
The virtual Draft included the 12 teams competing in the 2021 MLR season, with the order of selection being the same as the MLR Collegiate Draft 2020:
Draft Order –
- LA Giltinis
- Houston SaberCats
- Austin Gilgronis
- Seattle Seawolves
- New England Free Jacks
- Utah Warriors
- Rugby ATL
- Rugby United New York
- NOLA Gold
- Old Glory DC
- Toronto Arrows
- San Diego Legion
To incentivize teams to retain Dallas Jackal players, MLR ensured that all “International” players will be considered “Domestic” for the 2021 season and teams will be afforded additional salary cap equal to the player’s compensation.
Dallas Jackals players on Standard Player Contracts (fixed term, salaried employees) were given the option of participation in the draft or a 50% severance payment. Twelve players chose the former, while four chose the latter. Meanwhile, the seven athletes on Associate Player Contracts (hourly wage employees) are allowed to move freely to any team across the league or accept a severance payment. Finally, international players (7) who are still working to secure work authorization will be unrestricted once they do so and be able to join any team that desires their services.
“It was our duty to create a simple, incentivized, and equitable redistribution of the Jackals Players and to do so quickly,” said MLR Commissioner George Killebrew. “I have no doubt that the teams to whom these players are allocated will be welcoming and the players will be as driven as ever towards a championship.”
No additional salary cap or international roster spot considerations were applied to the waivered collegiate athletes. Similar to athletes drafted during the MLR Collegiate Draft 2020, teams will retain the rights to draftees until midway through the MLR season (May 17th, 2021).
Fans can expect player announcements from teams over the coming weeks as they work to help athletes transition to new homes and get ready for MLR 2021.
###
About MLR –
Major League Rugby is a professional sports league entering its fourth season on March 20, 2021 and represents the highest level of rugby competition in North America. The League evolved from seven teams in 2018, to 12 teams in 2021, featuring 11 from the United States and one from Canada. Matches are televised on CBS Sports Network, Fox Sports 2, and ESPN+, among other national and local market platforms. All matches are available on Facebook Live for international fans. MLR prides itself in fostering intense and high-stakes competition, while bringing together a passionate community built on the values of Respect, Inclusivity, and Tradition. For more information about MLR, visit www.MajorLeague.Rugby.
Recent Posts

USA Men’s Eagles to host Stade Toulousain in Utah this September
Following a three-match tour of Europe in August, the USA Men’s Eagles

How To Watch: June 2 – 4
Find information on how to watch every MLR match this weekend. For

First XV | WK 15
Loosehead Prop, Faka'Osi Pifeleti - San Diego Legion One Try Scored 20

HIGHLIGHTS | San Diego vs New York
#1 in the West, the San Diego Legion hosts MLR 2022 Champions,

HIGHLIGHTS | Houston vs Chicago
The Houston SaberCats snatch victory at death, stopping a second half Chicago
Categories
- Austin Gilgronis
- Chicago Hounds
- Dallas Jackals
- Expansion
- Games
- Headlines
- Highlights
- Houston SaberCats
- In the News
- LA Giltinis
- League Announcements
- MLR Collegiate Draft
- MLR News
- New England Free Jacks
- New York Ironworkers
- NOLA Gold
- Old Glory DC
- Press Releases
- Rugby ATL
- San Diego Legion
- Seattle Seawolves
- Team News
- Toronto Arrows
- Trades
- Utah Warriors
- Videos
Archives
- June 2023 (2)
- May 2023 (41)
- April 2023 (46)
- March 2023 (28)
- February 2023 (17)
- January 2023 (4)
- December 2022 (4)
- November 2022 (7)
- October 2022 (7)
- September 2022 (4)
- August 2022 (3)
- July 2022 (8)
- June 2022 (46)
- May 2022 (71)
- April 2022 (56)
- March 2022 (58)
- February 2022 (55)
- January 2022 (13)
- December 2021 (8)
- November 2021 (10)
- October 2021 (15)
- September 2021 (11)
- August 2021 (17)
- July 2021 (60)
- June 2021 (63)
- May 2021 (67)
- April 2021 (49)
- March 2021 (35)
- February 2021 (14)
- January 2021 (15)
- December 2020 (14)
- November 2020 (7)
- October 2020 (13)
- September 2020 (13)
- August 2020 (11)
- July 2020 (17)
- June 2020 (14)
- May 2020 (8)
- April 2020 (3)
- March 2020 (24)
- February 2020 (42)
- January 2020 (13)
- December 2019 (7)
- November 2019 (7)
- October 2019 (9)
- September 2019 (7)
- August 2019 (5)
- July 2019 (11)
- June 2019 (51)
- May 2019 (75)
- April 2019 (88)
- March 2019 (77)
- February 2019 (76)
- January 2019 (51)
- December 2018 (7)
- November 2018 (10)
- October 2018 (8)
- September 2018 (12)
- August 2018 (14)
- July 2018 (10)
- June 2018 (46)
- May 2018 (43)
- April 2018 (34)
- March 2018 (25)
- February 2018 (31)
- January 2018 (37)
- December 2017 (10)
- November 2017 (25)
- October 2017 (25)
- July 2017 (1)
- March 2017 (2)