WHAT – Major League Rugby (MLR), North America’s highest rugby competition, will host its 2026 MLR College Draft Show at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 27.

The MLR College Draft will consist of three rounds of five picks per round, representing 15 of the sport’s rising stars in the U.S. The Draft Show will break down all of this year’s picks, sharing highlights from their collegiate careers and contextualizing their skillsets with their new teams.

WHY – The MLR College Draft is the league’s official pathway from college rugby to the professional game. Held annually, the draft supports the college rugby landscape by giving collegiate players a clear route to the MLR. It helps maintain parity across the league while providing transparency in signing collegiate talent for teams and administrators.

WHO – Former MLR player and USA Eagle and current MLR broadcaster Will Hooley will host the 2026 MLR College Draft Show, reacting to each pick along with fan comments in the live chat. Additional hosts and/or appearances will be announced closer to the draft.

This year’s draft class features prospects in the Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) and National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) from schools across the country. A closer look at the top prospects is available at majorleague.rugby/mlrdraftprospects26.

WHEN AND WHERE – The two-hour show will begin at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 27, streaming live on Major League Rugby’s YouTube Channel (@USMLR).

For more information on the MLR College Draft, please visit majorleague.rugby/college-draft.

Eligible players can register for the 2026 MLR College Draft at majorleague.rugby/college-draft.